Methods for treating glioblastoma with herbal compositions

ABSTRACT

The inventive subject matter relates to methods for treating glioblastoma, comprising administration of a composition comprising therapeutically effective amounts of supercritical extracts of rosemary, turmeric, oregano and ginger; and therapeutically effective amounts of hydroalcoholic extracts of holy basil, ginger, turmeric,  Scutellaria baicalensis , rosemary, green tea, huzhang, Chinese goldthread, and barberry. The inventive subject matter further relates to methods for modulating gene expression of genes selected from the group consisting of interleukin-1α, interleukin-1β, heme oxygenase 1, aldo-keto reductase family 1, member C2, colony stimulating factor 3, leukemia inhibitory factor, heat shock 70 kDa protein, and combinations thereof, by administration of an effective amount of said compositions.

This is a Divisional Application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/225,895, filed on Sep. 14, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,622,142, an application claiming the benefit under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/609,265, filed on Sep. 14, 2004, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIVE SUBJECT MATTER

1. Field of the Inventive Subject Matter

The inventive subject matter relates to novel methods for treating glioblastoma, comprising administration of a composition comprising therapeutically effective amounts of supercritical extracts of rosemary, turmeric, oregano and ginger; and therapeutically effective amounts of hydroalcoholic extracts of holy basil, ginger, turmeric, Scutellaria baicalensis, rosemary, green tea, huzhang, Chinese goldthread, and barberry. The inventive subject matter further relates to methods for modulating gene expression of genes selected from the group consisting of interleukin-1α, interleukin-1β, heme oxygenase 1, aldo-keto reductase family 1, member C2, colony stimulating factor 3, leukemia inhibitory factor, heat shock 70 kDa protein, and combinations thereof, by administration of an effective amount of said compositions.

2. Background

Glioblastoma. Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most malignant, incurable brain tumor and most patients die in less than a year. Tumorigenesis of GBM is characterized by elevated production of arachidonic acid-derived lipids called eicosanoids. These molecules stimulate development of peritumoral brain edema and tumor progression. Glucocorticoids are the most effective drugs that are currently used to treat brain edema, but are associated with numerous side effects including interference with the efficacy of chemotherapy. Because the available therapies are not very effective, more than 50% of patients with GBM use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) approaches of which herbal therapies are the most commonly used.

5-lipoxygenase Inhibitors. The 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) pathway is one of at least four lipoxygenase pathways of arachidonic acid metabolism. The 5-lipoxygenase pathway consists of enzymes that regulate a series of biochemical reactions that result in the transformation of arachidonic acid to leukotriene A4, which can then be further metabolized to leukotriene B₄ or to leukotriene C₄. Activation of the 5-LO pathway leads to the biosynthesis of proinflammatory leukotriene lipid mediators, while inhibition of the 5-LO pathway may have anti-inflammatory effects.

Some compounds which inhibit 5-lipoxygenase have been described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,653,311, 6,455,541, 6,399,105, 6,121,323, 5,342,838, 5,298,514, 5,145,861, 5,130,483, 4,933,329, and 4,731,382. Drugs such as MK-886 (3-(1-(4-chlorobenzyl)-3-tert-butyl-thio-5-isopropylindol-2-yl)-2,2-dimethyl propanoic acid), L-656,224 ((7-chloro-2-[4-methoxypenyl]methyl)-3-methyl-5-propyl-4-benzofuranol), pentacyclic triterpene acetyl-11-keto-β-boswellic acid, PF-5901, Zileuton, and tepoxalin are intended to selectively inhibit 5-lipoxygenase. However, these drugs appear to have long term side effects. There is thus a continuing need for 5-lipoxygenase inhibitors which avoid side effects associated with current compositions.

Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors. Cyclooxygenase is an enzyme-protein complex with a variety of biochemical actions. There are at least three primary COX isoenzymes, COX-1, COX-2, and COX-3. COX-1 is a constitutive enzyme, produced at a reasonably consistent level at all times. It plays an important role in, for example, gastrointestinal protection, kidney function, and the aggregation of blood platelets. COX-2 production is not constant; it varies depending on signals from various biochemical catalysts. For example, in the case of arthritis inflammation and pain, COX-2 responds to tissue damage by oxidizing arachidonic acid, creating prostaglandins which in turn produce local inflammation. COX-3 has been identified relatively recently (Chandrasekharan, et al., PNAS U.S.A., 99(21):13926-31 (2002)). In humans, COX-3 mRNA is expressed most abundantly in the cerebral cortex and heart tissues. COX-3 activity is selectively inhibited by analgesic/antipyretic drugs. It has been suggested that inhibition of COX-3 could represent a mechanism by which these drugs decrease pain and possibly fever.

Prostaglandins play a major role in the inflammatory process and the inhibition of prostaglandin production, especially production of PGG₂, PGH₂, and PGE₂, has been a common target of anti-inflammatory drug discovery. However, common non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (hereinafter “NSAIDs”) that are active in reducing the prostaglandin-induced pain and swelling associated with the inflammation process are also active in affecting other prostaglandin-regulated processes not associated with the inflammation process.

NSAIDs have been found to prevent the production of prostaglandins by inhibiting enzymes in the human arachidonic acid/prostaglandin pathway, including the cyclooxygenase enzymes. Traditional non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as aspirin, work by inhibiting both COX-1 and COX-2. Thus, non-specific NSAIDs can have a damaging effect on the gastrointestinal tract, kidneys, and liver; blocking COX-1 can make the stomach lining more vulnerable, and reduced thromboxane production thins the blood, making gastrointestinal hemorrhage more likely, and may cause inadequate regulation of cellular immune functions and the secretion of various cytokines. The use of high doses of most common NSAID's can produce severe side effects, including life threatening ulcers, that limit their therapeutic potential.

COX-2 is associated with inflammation and provides a viable target of inhibition which more effectively reduces inflammation and produces fewer and less drastic side effects. Thus, researchers have been motivated to develop selective COX-2 inhibitors to reduce inflammation and relieve pain without the gastrointestinal damage brought on by inhibiting COX-1. In addition, the current scientific understanding in the art suggests that COX-2 inhibition may serve an important function in promoting normal cell growth in the colon, pancreas, breast tissue, and other organ systems.

Some compounds which selectively inhibit cyclooxygenase-2 have been described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,380,738, 5,344,991, 5,393,790, 5,434,178, 5,474,995, 5,510,368 and WO documents WO96/06840, WO96/03388, WO96/03387, WO96/25405, WO95/15316, WO94/15932, WO94/27980, WO95/00501, WO94/13635, WO94/20480, and WO94/26731.

Drugs such as valdecoxib, celecoxib, and rofecoxib are intended to selectively inhibit COX-2 with minimal effect on COX-1. However, despite the emphasis on COX-2 inhibition, even these drugs appear to have serious long term side effects, such as the breakdown in digestive protective mucus and prevention of normal healing processes. There is thus a continuing need for more specific and non-specific COX-2 inhibitors which avoid side effects associated with COX-1 inhibition.

Natural COX-2 Inhibitors. Several herbs have been found to inhibit the COX-2 enzyme. For example, holy basil has been found to possess significant anti-inflammatory properties and is capable of blocking both the cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase pathways of arachidonate metabolism. Ursolic acid and oleanolic acid, two of the recognized phytonutrients of holy basil, have been found to have a significant COX-2 inhibitory effect.

Similarly, shogaols and gingerols, pungent components of ginger, have been found to inhibit cyclooxygenase. Eugenol, another active constituent of several medical herbs, has also been found to be a 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor and to possess potent anti-inflammatory and/or anti-rheumatic properties.

Scutellaria baicalensis also has been found to inhibit the COX-2 enzyme. According to the USDA database, green tea contains six constituents having cyclooxygenase-inhibitor activity. According to the Napralert database, green tea contains fifty one constituents having anti-inflammatory activity. The polyphenols in green tea were found to cause a marked reduction in COX-2. Flavan-3-ol derivatives (+)-catechin, also present in green tea, have been reported to be COX-1 and COX-2 inhibitors. In addition, salicylic acid, another constituent of green tea, also has been found to be a COX-2 inhibitor.

Berberine, found in barberry and Chinese goldthread, has also been found to inhibit COX-2 without inhibiting COX-1 activity.

In U.S. Pat. No. 6,387,416, Applicants disclosed the inventive compositions and their use for reducing inflammation. The contents of U.S. Pat. No. 6,387,416 are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. Surprisingly, as discussed in greater detail below, it has been determined that the inventive compositions are useful for treating glioblastoma as well.

Use of COX-2 Inhibitors for Treating Cancer. It has been postulated that COX-2 inhibitors may be useful for treating cancer. Yet only a very few patents actually disclose the use of COX-2 inhibitors for treating any cancers. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,466,823 to Talley, et al., (Pyrazol-1-yl)benzene sulfonamides are disclosed as inhibitors of cyclooxygenase-2, and for use in the treatment of inflammation, arthritis, and pain, and as being useful for preventing colon cancer. However, their use for actually treating colon cancer or for treating or preventing other neoplasias is not disclosed.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,469,040 to Seibert, et al., discloses a method of using a specific, disclosed class of cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor derivatives in preventing and treating epithelial cell neoplasia in a subject.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,534,540 to Kindness, et al., discloses a combination of the proprietary HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor lovastatin and the proprietary COX-2 inhibitor rofecoxib for the treatment of cancer, especially glioblastoma, and a method of treatment of cancer, especially glioblastoma, by that combination.

Based on the limited body of art disclosing the use of COX-2 inhibitors for treating any cancer, and the need for effective treatments for glioblastoma in particular, it is apparent that there is a great and immediate need for new COX-2 inhibitors for treating glioblastoma. This need is met by the inventive methods and compositions, which treat glioblastoma without significant side effects.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIVE SUBJECT MATTER

The present inventive subject matter relates to a method for treating glioblastoma in a subject, comprising the step of administering an effective amount of a composition to said subject to treat or prevent said glioblastoma, said composition comprising therapeutically effective amounts of supercritical extracts of rosemary, turmeric, oregano and ginger; and therapeutically effective amounts of hydroalcoholic extracts of holy basil, ginger, turmeric, Scutellaria baicalensis, rosemary, green tea, huzhang, Chinese goldthread, and barberry.

The present inventive subject matter further relates to a method for treating glioblastoma in a subject, comprising the step of administering an effective amount of a composition to said subject to treat said tumor, said composition comprising therapeutically effective amounts of supercritical extracts of rosemary, turmeric, oregano and ginger; and therapeutically effective amounts of hydroalcoholic extracts of holy basil, ginger, turmeric, Scutellaria baicalensis, rosemary, green tea, huzhang, Chinese goldthread, and barberry.

In addition, the present inventive subject matter is drawn to a method for treating side effects associated with glioblastoma in a subject, comprising the step of administering an effective amount of a composition to said subject to treat said side effects, said composition comprising therapeutically effective amounts of supercritical extracts of rosemary, turmeric, oregano and ginger; and

therapeutically effective amounts of hydroalcoholic extracts of holy basil, ginger, turmeric, Scutellaria baicalensis, rosemary, green tea, huzhang, Chinese goldthread, and barberry.

Further, the present inventive subject matter relates to methods for modulating gene expression in a target cell of one or more genes selected from the group consisting of: interleukin-1α, interleukin-1β, heme oxygenase 1, aldo-keto reductase family 1, member C2, colony stimulating factor 3, leukemia inhibitory factor, heat shock 70 kDa protein, and combinations thereof, comprising administration of an effective amount of a composition comprising therapeutically effective amounts of supercritical extracts of rosemary, turmeric, oregano and ginger; and therapeutically effective amounts of hydroalcoholic extracts of holy basil, ginger, turmeric, Scutellaria baicalensis, rosemary, green tea, huzhang, Chinese goldthread, and barberry.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a photograph which depicts induction of heme oxygenase-1 protein expression in U87 glioblastoma cells produced by the inventive compositions, as described in Example 6.

FIG. 2 is a series of three graphs which depict control and experimental U87 GBM cell apoptosis, as described in Example 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTIVE SUBJECT MATTER Definitions

The term “therapeutically effective amount” as used herein refers to that amount of the extract which will contribute to the cancer-treating ability of the composition.

The term “treating” as used herein refers to partial or total inhibition of the growth, spreading, or metastasis of glioblastoma, as well as partial or total destruction of the cancer cells. The term “treating” includes the reduction or elimination of glioblastoma, and also the reduction in the incidence of the disease.

The term “preventing” as used herein refers to either preventing the onset of glioblastoma, or preventing the onset of a preclinically evident stage of glioblastoma in individuals at risk. Also intended to be encompassed by this definition is the prevention of initiation for malignant cells, and the arrest or reversal of the progression of premalignant cells to malignant cells. “Preventing” also includes the prevention of growth or spreading of the glioblastoma. This includes prophylactic treatment of those at risk of developing a glioblastoma.

The term “supercritical gas” or “supercritical fluid” as used herein refers to a gas is that heated to a temperature critical point, over which the gas will maintain its gaseous state and not turn to a liquid regardless of pressure. A gas heated to a temperature above its critical point will become very dense on compression, so that its characteristics resemble those of a fluid, but will not become liquid. Carbon dioxide is commonly used in applications requiring a supercritical fluid. The general properties of supercritical fluids and the general use of supercritical fluids in extraction processes are described in, e.g. Taylor, Supercritical Fluid Extraction, Wiley, 1996; McHugh and Krukonis, Supercritical Fluid Extraction: Principles and Practice, 2nd ed., Butterworth-Heinemann, 1994; and Williams and Clifford, Supercritical Fluid Methods and Protocols, Humana Press, 2000, the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein.

The term “supercritical extraction” as used herein refers to the technique in which hydrophobic compounds can be extracted from samples utilizing a supercritical fluid. The solvation power of a supercritical fluid is increased as the pressure and temperature are increased above their critical points, producing an effective solvent for the isolation of hydrophobic molecules.

The term “hydroalcoholic extraction” as used herein refers to the technique in which hydrophilic compounds can be extracted from a sample utilizing a solution of alcohol and water, followed by evaporation of the solution to produce a extract consisting of dissolved solids.

The term “neoplasia” as used herein refers broadly to neoplastic, pre-malignant, and proliferative disease, including specifically benign, premalignant, or malignant neoplasms in individuals with or without any prior history or diagnosis of neoplastic, pre-malignant, or proliferative disease. The term “neoplasia” includes neoplasia that produce prostaglandins or express a cyclooxygenase, including both benign and cancerous tumors, growths, and polyps.

The term “glioblastoma” as used herein refers broadly to neuroglia cell tumors and other malignant tumors or neoplasia of the central nervous system.

The term “subject” as used herein refers to any human or mammal subject who has a glioblastoma, preferably a human subject. For methods of prevention, the subject is any human or animal subject, preferably a human subject, who is at risk for developing glioblastoma. The subject may be at risk due to exposure to carcinogenic agents, being genetically predisposed to have a glioblastoma, and the like.

The term “cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor” or “COX-2 inhibitor” as used herein refers to a compound or composition which is able to inhibit cyclooxygenase-2 without adverse inhibition of cyclooxygenase-1.

Methods for Treating Glioblastoma

Diet is considered as one of the most important modifiable factors in coronary heart disease and carcinogenesis. Recent evidence indicates that modulation of inflammation by compounds found in many herbs and spices may be one of the mechanisms by which diet influences development and progression of these common chronic conditions.

Both arachidonic acid and its precursor, linoleic acid, are present in significant quantities in animal fats and a variety of vegetable oils. Physiologically, these fatty acids are integral components of cellular membranes and also function as substrates for the production of an important group of potent, signaling lipids, termed eicosanoids. Eicosanoids are known to be involved in the initiation of the inflammatory response, fever production, regulation of blood pressure, blood clotting, control of reproductive processes and tissue growth, and regulation of the sleep/wake cycle. Additionally, these powerful mediators and the enzymes that produce them, cycloxygenases (COX) and lipoxygenases (LO), are implicated in tumor development, progression, and metastasis.

The three main isoforms of cycloxygenase are COX-1, COX-2, and COX-3, and these enzymes are responsible for the production of the group of eicosanoids, prostaglandins. The COX-1 isoform has many important housekeeping functions in the cell, and is therefore constitutively produced throughout the body. COX-2, however, is usually absent until induced by specific stimuli. It is therefore not surprising that COX-2 is implicated in the progression of many disease states, including cancer. COX-2 has been found to be present in elevated levels in a variety of cancers, including lung, colon, pancreatic, head and neck, and glioblastoma. As discussed above, COX-3 has only been relatively recently identified.

A wide spectrum of human malignancies aberrantly overexpress pro-inflammatory cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) enzymes and inhibitors of these molecules may be useful in cancer chemoprevention and treatment. For this application, Applicants examined the effects of Zyflamend® herbal preparation (New Chapter, Inc., Brattleboro, Vt.; hereinafter “the inventive compositions”) on apoptosis and global gene expression of an established human glioblastoma cell line U87.

The centuries old natural remedy of using white willow bark (Salix alba) to provide some pain relief led to the discovery of aspirin, and eventually, to the elucidation of its mechanism of action as a COX inhibitor. Based on this lead and other traditional Eastern medicinal practices, many researchers have looked to a variety of natural plant extracts and natural products for the discovery of both non-specific COX and specific COX-2 inhibitors. Some herbal extracts and natural products that have peaked interest amongst researchers include curcumin, ginger, holy basil, resveratrol, thundergod vine, and berberine from barberry and Chinese goldthread.

Applicants have developed a mixture comprised of herbal extracts, and the mixture has COX-2 inhibitory activity. Applicants' compositions are unique, in that they are prepared via a supercritical CO₂ extraction process. Unlike traditional solvent based extraction methods, supercritical CO₂ extraction allows the natural products in the herbs to be obtained without leaving chemical residues behind in the preparation.

Surprisingly, in addition to the anti-inflammatory action disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,387,416, Applicants have found that using the inventive compositions and methods produce apoptosis in glioblastoma cell lines. Applicants also expect that the inventive methods inhibit cell growth in cancer cells which have deactivated apoptotic pathways.

The inventive subject matter is based on the discovery that a combination of certain herbs properly extracted and blended in appropriate proportions can used in treating glioblastoma. Thus, Applicants expect that compositions comprising a therapeutically effective amount of extracts of one or more of rosemary, turmeric, oregano, ginger, holy basil, ginger, turmeric, Scutellaria baicalensis, rosemary, green tea, huzhang, Chinese goldthread, or barberry, and combinations thereof, are effective in treating glioblastoma. In particular, the present inventive subject matter relates to a method for treating glioblastoma in a subject, comprising the step of administering an effective amount of a preferred composition to said subject to treat or prevent said glioblastoma, said composition comprising therapeutically effective amounts of supercritical extracts of rosemary, turmeric, oregano and/or ginger; and/or therapeutically effective amounts of hydroalcoholic extracts of holy basil, ginger, turmeric, Scutellaria baicalensis, rosemary, green tea, huzhang, Chinese goldthread, and/or barberry.

In one aspect, said composition is administered orally.

In another preferred embodiment, the orally administered composition is in the form of one or more capsules, one or more tablets, or one or more pills.

In another aspect, the composition comprises:

-   -   (A) from about 4.5% to about 7.5%, and more preferably from         about 5.5% to about 6.5%, by weight of the hydroalcoholic         extract of ginger;     -   (B) from about 5.5% to about 8.5%, and more preferably from         about 6% to about 8%, by weight of the supercritical extract of         ginger;     -   (C) from about 1.0% to about 1.5%, and more preferably from         about 1.2% to about 1.4%, by weight of the supercritical extract         of turmeric;     -   (D) from about 10.0% to about 16.0%, and more preferably from         about 11.5% to about 14.5%, by weight of the supercritical         extract of rosemary;     -   (E) from about 4.0% to about 6.0%, and more preferably from         about 4.5% to about 5.5%, by weight of the supercritical extract         of oregano;     -   (F) from about 10.0% to about 16.0%, and more preferably from         about 11.5% to about 14.5%, by weight of the hydroalcoholic         extract of turmeric;     -   (G) from about 5.5% to about 8.0%, and more preferably from         about 6.0% to about 7.0%, by weight of the hydroalcoholic         extract of rosemary;     -   (H) from about 10.0% to about 16.0%, and more preferably from         about 11.5% to about 14.5%, by weight of the hydroalcoholic         extract of holy basil;     -   (I) from about 10.0% to about 16.0%, and more preferably from         about 11.5% to about 14.5%, by weight of the hydroalcoholic         extract of green tea;     -   (J) from about 8.0% to about 12.0%, and more preferably from         about 9.0% to about 11.0%, by weight of the hydroalcoholic         extract of huzhang;     -   (K) from about 4.0% to about 6.0%, and more preferably from         about 4.5% to about 5.5%, by weight of the hydroalcoholic         extract of Chinese goldthread;     -   (L) from about 4.0% to about 6.0%, and more preferably from         about 4.5% to about 5.5%, by weight of the hydroalcoholic         extract of barberry; and     -   (M) from about 2.0% to about 3.0%, and more preferably from         about 2.25% to about 2.75%, by weight of the hydroalcoholic         extract of Scutellaria baicalensis.

The hydroalcoholic extract of ginger used in the present invention is preferably prepared as follows. The ginger rhizome, which is preferably cryogenically ground to preserve heat sensitive components, is subjected to supercritical extraction, preferably with carbon dioxide, to obtain: (i) an oil extract, referred to herein as “the supercritical extract” of ginger, containing delicate lipophilic components, and (ii) an oil-free residue. The oil-free residue is then extracted in a water/alcohol, preferably water/ethanol, mixture composed of 60-80 parts alcohol and 40-20 parts water. The alcohol/water liquid is then evaporated off, leaving a powdered extract residue, referred to herein as “the hydroalcoholic extract” of ginger.

In a preferred aspect, the weight ratio of the supercritical extract of ginger to the hydroalcoholic extract of ginger is from about 0.9:1 to about 1.4:1.

The supercritical extracts of ginger, rosemary, turmeric and oregano used in the present invention can be prepared according to known supercritical extraction methods, such as disclosed, e.g., in E. Stahl, K. W. Quirin, D. Gerard, Dense Gases for Extraction and Refining, Springer Verlag 4 1988, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.

The hydroalcoholic extracts of rosemary, turmeric, holy basil, green tea, huzhang, Chinese goldthread, barberry and Scutellaria baicalensis used in the present invention can be prepared according to conventional hydroalcoholic extraction techniques. For example, the hydroalcoholic extracts can be prepared by extracting the plant portion in a water/alcohol, preferably water/ethanol, mixture preferably composed of 60-80 parts alcohol and 40-20 parts water, and then evaporating off the water/alcohol liquid, leaving a powdered extract residue referred to herein as “the hydroalcoholic extract”.

In yet another aspect, the weight ratio of the hydroalcoholic extract of turmeric to the supercritical extract of turmeric is from about 8:1 to about 12:1.

In an alternate aspect, the weight ratio of the supercritical extract of rosemary to the hydroalcoholic extract of rosemary is from about 1.6:1 to about 2.4:1.

In a still further aspect, the hydroalcoholic extract of ginger comprises from about 2.4% to about 3.6%, more preferably from about 2.7% to about 3.3%, and most preferably about 3.0%, by weight of pungent compounds.

In another aspect, the supercritical extract of ginger comprises from about 24% to about 36%, more preferably from about 27% to about 33%, and most preferably about 30%, by weight of pungent compounds; and from about 6.4% to about 9.6%, more preferably from about 7.2% to about 8.8%, and most preferably about 8%, by weight of zingiberene.

In a further aspect, the supercritical extract of turmeric comprises from about 36% to about 54%, more preferably from about 40.5% to about 49.5%, and most preferably about 45%, by weight of turmerones.

In another aspect, the supercritical extract of rosemary comprises from about 18.4% to about 27.6%, more preferably from about 20.7% to about 25.3%, and most preferably about 23%, by weight of total phenolic antioxidants.

In yet another aspect, the supercritical extract of oregano comprises from about 0.64% to about 0.96%, more preferably from about 0.72% to about 0.88%, and most preferably about 0.8%, by weight of total phenolic antioxidants.

In a still further aspect, the hydroalcoholic extract of turmeric comprises from about 5.6% to about 8.4%, more preferably from about 6.3% to about 7.7%, and most preferably about 7%, by weight of curcumin.

In another aspect, the hydroalcoholic extract of rosemary comprises from about 18.4% to about 27.6%, more preferably from about 20.7% to about 25.3%, and most preferably about 23%, by weight of total phenolic antioxidants.

In a further embodiment, the hydroalcoholic extract of holy basil comprises from about 1.6% to about 2.4%, more preferably from about 1.8% to about 2.2%, and most preferably about 2%, by weight of ursolic acid.

In a further aspect, the hydroalcoholic extract of green tea comprises from about 36% to about 54%, more preferably from about 40.5% to about 49.5%, and most preferably about 45%, by weight of polyphenols.

In another aspect, the hydroalcoholic extract of huzhang comprises from about 6.4% to about 9.6%, more preferably from about 7.2% to about 8.8%, and most preferably about 8%, by weight of resveratrol.

In another embodiment, the hydroalcoholic extract of Chinese goldthread comprises from about 4.8% to about 7.2%, more preferably from about 5.4% to about 6.6%, and most preferably about 6%, by weight of berberine.

In a further aspect, the hydroalcoholic extract of barberry comprises from about 4.8% to about 7.2%, more preferably from about 5.4% to about 6.6%, and most preferably about 6%, by weight of berberine.

In an alternate aspect, said composition comprises:

-   -   (A) from about 4.5% to about 7.5% by weight of the         hydroalcoholic extract of ginger, wherein the extract comprises         from about 2.4% to about 3.6% by weight of pungent compounds;     -   (B) from about 5.5% to about 8.5% by weight of the supercritical         extract of ginger, wherein the extract comprises from about 24%         to about 36% by weight of pungent compounds and from about 6.4%         to about 9.6% by weight of zingiberene;     -   (C) from about 1.0% to about 1.5% by weight of the supercritical         extract of turmeric, wherein the extract comprises from about         36% to about 54% by weight of turmerones;     -   (D) from about 10.0% to about 16.0% by weight of the         supercritical extract of rosemary, wherein the extract comprises         from about 18.4% to about 27.6% by weight of total phenolic         antioxidants;     -   (E) from about 4.0% to about 6.0% by weight of the supercritical         extract of oregano, wherein the extract comprises from about         0.64% to about 0.96% by weight of total phenolic antioxidants;     -   (F) from about 10.0% to about 16.0% by weight of the         hydroalcoholic extract of turmeric, wherein the extract         comprises from about 5.6% to about 8.4% by weight of curcumin;     -   (G) from about 5.5% to about 8.0% by weight of the         hydroalcoholic extract of rosemary, wherein the extract         comprises from about 18.4% to about 27.6% by weight of total         phenolic antioxidants;     -   (H) from about 10.0% to about 16.0% by weight of the         hydroalcoholic extract of holy basil, wherein the extract         comprises from about 1.6% to about 2.4% by weight of ursolic         acid;     -   (I) from about 10.0% to about 16.0% by weight of the         hydroalcoholic extract of green tea, wherein the extract         comprises from about 36% to about 54% by weight of polyphenols;     -   (J) from about 8.0% to about 12.0% by weight of the         hydroalcoholic extract of huzhang, wherein the extract comprises         from about 6.4% to about 9.6% by weight of resveratrol;     -   (K) from about 4.0% to about 6.0% by weight of the         hydroalcoholic extract of Chinese goldthread, wherein the         extract from about 4.8% to about 7.2% by weight of berberine;     -   (L) from about 4.0% to about 6.0% by weight of the         hydroalcoholic extract of barberry, wherein the extract from         about 4.8% to about 7.2% by weight of berberine; and     -   (M) from about 2.0% to about 3.0% by weight of the         hydroalcoholic extract of Scutellaria baicalensis; and wherein         said composition further comprises:     -   (i) the supercritical extract of ginger and the         post-supercritical hydroalcoholic extract of ginger at a weight         ratio of from about 0.9 to about 1.4 parts of supercritical         extract per 1 part of post-supercritical hydroalcoholic extract;     -   (ii) the hydroalcoholic extract of turmeric and the         supercritical extract of turmeric at a weight ratio of from         about 8 to about 12 parts of hydroalcoholic extract per 1 part         of supercritical extract; and     -   (iii) the supercritical extract of rosemary and the         hydroalcoholic extract of rosemary at a weight ratio of from         about 1.6 to about 2.4 parts of supercritical extract per 1 part         of hydroalcoholic extract.

In a preferred embodiment, the composition is administered in a daily dosage of at least about 700 mg.

In another aspect, the composition is administered on a daily basis for at least 4 weeks.

A still further aspect of the present inventive subject matter is drawn to a method for treating at least one cancerous tumor of the central nervous system in a subject, comprising the step of administering an effective amount of a composition to said subject to treat said tumor, said composition comprising therapeutically effective amounts of supercritical extracts of rosemary, turmeric, oregano and ginger; and therapeutically effective amounts of hydroalcoholic extracts of holy basil, ginger, turmeric, Scutellaria baicalensis, rosemary, green tea, huzhang, Chinese goldthread, and barberry.

In a still further embodiment of the present inventive subject matter, the at least one cancerous tumor is detected during surgery on the central nervous system of said subject, having not been felt by a physician on physical examination of said subject.

Yet still further, the present inventive subject matter includes the at least one cancerous tumor being confined to the central nervous system of said subject and is detected by a physician on physical examination of said subject.

An additional aspect of the present invention includes the cancer related to said at least one cancerous tumor extends beyond the central nervous system of said subject, but has not spread to lymph nodes in said subject.

A further additional aspect of the present inventive subject matter is directed to the cancer related to said at least one cancerous tumor is metastasized to regional lymph nodes or other parts of said subject.

A preferred aspect of the present invention is directed to a method for treating side effects associated with glioblastoma in a subject, comprising the step of administering an effective amount of a composition to said subject to treat said side effects, said composition comprising therapeutically effective amounts of supercritical extracts of rosemary, turmeric, oregano and ginger; and therapeutically effective amounts of hydroalcoholic extracts of holy basil, ginger, turmeric, Scutellaria baicalensis, rosemary, green tea, huzhang, Chinese goldthread, and barberry.

In an alternate aspect, the composition comprises an additional agent selected from the group consisting of antineoplastic agents, growth inhibiting agents, and nutrients.

There are large numbers of antineoplastic agents available in commercial use, in clinical evaluation and in pre-clinical development, which optionally are selected for treatment of glioblastoma by combination drug chemotherapy.

Such antineoplastic agents fall into several major categories: antimetabolite agents, antibiotic-type agents, alkylating agents, hormonal agents, immunological agents, interferon-type agents, metallomatrix proteases, superoxide dismutase mimics or “v_(—)3 inhibitors. Thus, in a preferred embodiment, said antineoplastic agent is selected from the group consisting of antimetabolite agents, antibiotic-type agents, alkylating agents, hormonal agents, immunological agents, interferon-type agents, metallomatrix proteases, superoxide dismutase mimics, and _v_(—)3 inhibitors.

One class of antineoplastic agents which may be used in combination with an inventive composition consists of antimetabolite-type antineoplastic agents. Suitable antimetabolite antineoplastic agents may be selected from the group consisting of 5-FU-fibrinogen, acanthifolic acid, aminothiadiazole, brequinar sodium, carmofur, Ciba-Geigy CGP-30694, cyclopentyl cytosine, cytarabine phosphate stearate, cytarabine conjugates, Lilly DATHF, Merrel Dow DDFC, dezaguanine, dideoxycytidine, dideoxyguanosine, didox, Yoshitomi DMDC, doxifluridine, Wellcome EHNA, Merck & Co. EX-015, fazarabine, floxuridine, fludarabine phosphate, 5-fluorouracil, N-(2′-furanidyl)-5-fluorouracil, Daiichi Seiyaku FO-152, isopropyl pyrrolizine, Lilly LY-188011, Lilly LY-264618, methobenzaprim, methotrexate, Wellcome MZPES, norspermidine, NCI NSC-127716, NCI NSC-264880, NCI NSC-39661, NCI NSC-612567, Warner-Lambert PALA, pentostatin, piritrexim, plicamycin, Asahi Chemical PL-AC, Takeda TAC-788, thioguanine, tiazofurin, Erbamont TIF, trimetrexate, tyrosine kinase inhibitors, tyrosine protein kinase inhibitors, Taiho UFT, and uricytin.

A second class of antineoplastic agents which may be used in combination with an inventive composition consists of alkylating-type antineoplastic agents. Suitable alkylating-type antineoplastic agents may be selected from the group consisting of Shionogi 254-S, aldo-phosphamide analogues, altretamine, anaxirone, Boehringer Mannheim BBR-2207, bestrabucil, budotitane, Wakunaga CA-102, carboplatin, carmustine, Chinoin-139, Chinoin-153, chlorambucil, cisplatin, cyclophosphamide, American Cyanamid CL-286558, Sanofi CY-233, cyplatate, Degussa D-19-384, Sumimoto DACHP(Myr)2, diphenylspiromustine, diplatinum cytostatic, Erba distamycin derivatives, Chugai DWA-2114R, ITI E09, elmustine, Erbamont FCE-24517, estramustine phosphate sodium, fotemustine, Unimed G-6-M, Chinoin GYKI-17230, hepsul-fam, ifosfamide, iproplatin, lomustine, mafosfamide, mitolactol, Nippon Kayaku NK-121, NCI NSC-264395, NCI NSC-342215, oxaliplatin, Upjohn PCNU, prednimustine, Proter PTT-119, ranimustine, semustine, SmithKline SK&F-101772, Yakult Honsha SN-22, spiromustine, Tanabe Seiyaku TA-077, tauromustine, temozolomide, teroxirone, tetraplatin, and trimelamol.

A third class of antineoplastic agents which may be used in combination with an inventive composition consists of antibiotic-type antineoplastic agents. Suitable antibiotic-type antineoplastic agents may be selected from the group consisting of Taiho 4181-A, aclarubicin, actinomycin D, actinoplanone, Erbamont ADR-456, aeroplysinin derivative, Ajinomoto AN-201-II, Ajinomoto AN-3, Nippon Soda anisomycins, anthracycline, azino-mycin-A, bisucaberin, Bristol-Myers BL-6859, Bristol-Myers BMY-25067, Bristol-Myers BMY-25551, Bristol-Myers BMY-26605, Bristol-Myers BMY-27557, Bristol-Myers BMY-28438, bleomycin sulfate, bryostatin-1, Taiho C-1027, calichemycin, chromoximycin, dactinomycin, daunorubicin, Kyowa Hakko DC-102, Kyowa Hakko DC-79, Kyowa Hakko DC-88A, Kyowa Hakko DC89-A1, Kyowa Hakko DC92-B, ditrisarubicin B, Shionogi DOB-41, doxorubicin, doxorubicin-fibrinogen, elsamicin-A, epirubicin, erbstatin, esorubicin, esperamicin-A1, esperamicin-Alb, Erbamont FCE-21954, Fujisawa FK-973, fostriecin, Fujisawa FR-900482, glidobactin, gregatin-A, grincamycin, herbimycin, idarubicin, illudins, kazusamycin, kesarirhodins, Kyowa Hakko KM-5539, Kirin Brewery KRN-8602, Kyowa Hakko KT-5432, Kyowa Hakko KT-5594, Kyowa Hakko KT-6149, American Cyanamid LL-D49194, Meiji Seika ME 2303, menogaril, mitomycin, mitoxantrone, SmithKline M-TAG, neoenactin, Nippon Kayaku NK-313, Nippon Kayaku NKT-01, SRI International NSC-357704, oxalysine, oxaunomycin, peplomycin, pilatin, pirarubicin, porothramycin, pyrindamycin A, Tobishi RA-I, rapamycin, rhizoxin, rodorubicin, sibanomicin, siwenmycin, Sumitomo SM-5887, Snow Brand SN-706, Snow Brand SN-07, sorangicin-A, sparsomycin, SS Pharmaceutical SS-21020, SS Pharmaceutical SS-7313B, SS Pharmaceutical SS-9816B, steffimycin B, Taiho 4181-2, talisomycin, Takeda TAN-868A, terpentecin, thrazine, tricrozarin A, Upjohn U-73975, Kyowa Hakko UCN-10028A, Fujisawa WF-3405, Yoshitomi Y-25024, and zorubicin.

A fourth class of antineoplastic agents which may be used in combination with an inventive composition consists of a miscellaneous family of antineoplastic agents selected from the group consisting of alpha-carotene, alpha-difluoromethyl-arginine, acitretin, Biotec AD-5, Kyorin AHC-52, alstonine, amonafide, amphethinile, amsacrine, Angiostat, ankinomycin, anti-neoplaston A10, antineoplaston A2, antineoplaston A3, antineoplaston A5, antineoplaston AS2-1, Henkel APD, aphidicolin glycinate, asparaginase, Avarol, baccharin, batracylin, benfluoron, benzotript, Ipsen-Beaufour BIM-23015, bisantrene, Bristol-Myers BMY-40481, Vestar boron-10, bromofosfamide, Wellcome BW-502, Wellcome BW-773, caracemide, carmethizole hydrochloride, Ajinomoto CDAF, chlorsulfaquinoxalone, Chemes CHX-2053, Chemex CHX-100, Warner-Lambert CI-921, Warner-Lambert CI-937, Warner-Lambert CI-941, Warner-Lambert CI-958, clanfenur, claviridenone, ICN compound 1259, ICN compound 4711, Contracan, Yakult Honsha CPT-11, crisnatol, curaderm, cytochalasin B, cytarabine, cytocytin, Merz D-609, DABIS maleate, dacarbazine, datelliptinium, didemnin-B, dihaematoporphyrin ether, dihydrolenperone, dinaline, distamycin, Toyo Pharmar DM-341, Toyo Pharmar DM-75, Daiichi Seiyaku DN-9693, elliprabin, elliptinium acetate, Tsumura EPMTC, ergotamine, etoposide, etretinate, fenretinide, Fujisawa FR-57704, gallium nitrate, genkwadaphnin, Chugai GLA-43, Glaxo GR-63178, grifolan NMF-5N, hexadecylphosphocholine, Green Cross HO-221, homoharringtonine, hydroxyurea, BTG ICRF-187, ilmofosine, isoglutamine, isotretinoin, Otsuka JI-36, Ramot K-477, Otsuak K-76COONa, Kureha Chemical K-AM, MECT Corp KI-8110, American Cyanamid L-623, leukoregulin, lonidamine, Lundbeck LU-23-112, Lilly LY-186641, NCI (US) MAP, marycin, Merrel Dow MDL-27048, Medco MEDR-340, merbarone, merocyanine derivatives, methylanilinoacridine, Molecular Genetics MGI-136, minactivin, mitonafide, mitoquidone, mopidamol, motretinide, Zenyaku Kogyo MST-16, N-(retinoyl)amino acids, Nisshin Flour Milling N-021, N-acylated-dehydroalanines, nafazatrom, Taisho NCU-190, nocodazole derivative, Normosang, NCI NSC-145813, NCI NSC-361456, NCI NSC-604782, NCI NSC-95580, octreotide, Ono ONO-112, oquizanocine, Akzo Org-10172, pancratistatin, pazelliptine, Warner-Lambert PD-111707, Warner-Lambert PD-115934, Warner-Lambert PD-131141, Pierre Fabre PE-1001, ICRT peptide D, piroxantrone, polyhaematoporphyrin, polypreic acid, Efamol porphyrin, probimane, procarbazine, proglumide, Invitron protease nexin I, Tobishi RA-700, razoxane, Sapporo Breweries RBS, restrictin-P, retelliptine, retinoic acid, Rhone-Poulenc RP-49532, Rhone-Poulenc RP-56976, SmithKline SK&F-104864, Sumitomo SM-108, Kuraray SMANCS, SeaPharm SP-10094, spatol, spirocyclopropane derivatives, spirogermanium, Unimed, SS Pharmaceutical SS-554, strypoldinone, Stypoldione, Suntory SUN 0237, Suntory SUN 2071, superoxide dismutase, Toyama T-506, Toyama T-680, taxol, Teijin TEI-0303, teniposide, thaliblastine, Eastman Kodak TJB-29, tocotrienol, Topostin, Teijin TT-82, Kyowa Hakko UCN-01, Kyowa Hakko UCN-1028, ukrain, Eastman Kodak USB-006, vinblastine sulfate, vincristine, vindesine, vinestramide, vinorelbine, vintriptol, vinzolidine, withanolides, and Yamanouchi YM-534.

Examples of radioprotective agents which may be used in the combination chemotherapy of this invention are AD-5, adchnon, amifostine analogues, detox, dimesna, 1-102, MM-159, N-acylated-dehydroalanines, TGF-Genentech, tiprotimod, amifostine, WR-151327, FUT-187, ketoprofen transdermal, nabumetone, superoxide dismutase (Chiron), and superoxide dismutase Enzo.

Thus, in a further preferred embodiment, said antineoplastic agent is selected from the group consisting of 5-FU-fibrinogen, acanthifolic acid, aminothiadiazole, brequinar sodium, carmofur, Ciba-Geigy CGP-30694, cyclopentyl cytosine, cytarabine phosphate stearate, cytarabine conjugates, Lilly DATHF, Merrel Dow DDFC, dezaguanine, dideoxycytidine, dideoxyguanosine, didox, Yoshitomi DMDC, doxifluridine, Wellcome EHNA, Merck & Co. EX-015, fazarabine, floxuridine, fludarabine phosphate, 5-fluorouracil, N-(2′-furanidyl)-5-fluorouracil, Daiichi Seiyaku FO-152, isopropyl pyrrolizine, Lilly LY-188011, Lilly LY-264618, methobenzaprim, methotrexate, Wellcome MZPES, norspermidine, NCI NSC-127716, NCI NSC-264880, NCI NSC-39661, NCI NSC-612567, Warner-Lambert PALA, pentostatin, piritrexim, plicamycin, Asahi Chemical PL-AC, Takeda TAC-788, thioguanine, tiazofurin, Erbamont TIF, trimetrexate, tyrosine kinase inhibitors, tyrosine protein kinase inhibitors, Taiho UFT, uricytin, Shionogi 254-S, aldo-phosphamide analogues, altretamine, anaxirone, Boehringer Mannheim BBR-2207, bestrabucil, budotitane, Wakunaga CA-102, carboplatin, carmustine, Chinoin-139, Chinoin-153, chlorambucil, cisplatin, cyclophosphamide, American Cyanamid CL-286558, Sanofi CY-233, cyplatate, Degussa D-19-384, Sumimoto DACHP(Myr)₂, diphenylspiromustine, diplatinum cytostatic, Erba distamycin derivatives, Chugai DWA-2114R, ITI E09, elmustine, Erbamont FCE-24517, estramustine phosphate sodium, fotemustine, Unimed G-6-M, Chinoin GYKI-17230, hepsul-fam, ifosfamide, iproplatin, lomustine, mafosfamide, mitolactol, Nippon Kayaku NK-121, NCI NSC-264395, NCI NSC-342215, oxaliplatin, Upjohn PCNU, prednimustine, Proter PTT-119, ranimustine, semustine, SmithKline SK&F-101772, Yakult Honsha SN-22, spiromustine, Tanabe Seiyaku TA-077, tauromustine, temozolomide, teroxirone, tetraplatin, trimelamol, Taiho 4181-A, aclarubicin, actinomycin D, actinoplanone, Erbamont ADR-456, aeroplysinin derivative, Ajinomoto AN-201-II, Ajinomoto AN-3, Nippon Soda anisomycins, anthracycline, azino-mycin-A, bisucaberin, Bristol-Myers BL-6859, Bristol-Myers BMY-25067, Bristol-Myers BMY-25551, Bristol-Myers BMY-26605, Bristol-Myers BMY-27557, Bristol-Myers BMY-28438, bleomycin sulfate, bryostatin-1, Taiho C-1027, calichemycin, chromoximycin, dactinomycin, daunorubicin, Kyowa Hakko DC-102, Kyowa Hakko DC-79, Kyowa Hakko DC-88A, Kyowa Hakko DC89-A1, Kyowa Hakko DC92-B, ditrisarubicin B, Shionogi DOB-41, doxorubicin, doxorubicin-fibrinogen, elsamicin-A, epirubicin, erbstatin, esorubicin, esperamicin-A1, esperamicin-Alb, Erbamont FCE-21954, Fujisawa FK-973, fostriecin, Fujisawa FR-900482, glidobactin, gregatin-A, grincamycin, herbimycin, idarubicin, illudins, kazusamycin, kesarirhodins, Kyowa Hakko KM-5539, Kirin Brewery KRN-8602, Kyowa Hakko KT-5432, Kyowa Hakko KT-5594, Kyowa Hakko KT-6149, American Cyanamid LL-D49194, Meiji Seika ME 2303, menogaril, mitomycin, mitoxantrone, SmithKline M-TAG, neoenactin, Nippon Kayaku NK-313, Nippon Kayaku NKT-01, SRI International NSC-357704, oxalysine, oxaunomycin, peplomycin, pilatin, pirarubicin, porothramycin, pyrindamycin A, Tobishi RA-I, rapamycin, rhizoxin, rodorubicin, sibanomicin, siwenmycin, Sumitomo SM-5887, Snow Brand SN-706, Snow Brand SN-07, sorangicin-A, sparsomycin, SS Pharmaceutical SS-21020, SS Pharmaceutical SS-7313B, SS Pharmaceutical SS-9816B, steffimycin B, Taiho 4181-2, talisomycin, Takeda TAN-868A, terpentecin, thrazine, tricrozarin A, Upjohn U-73975, Kyowa Hakko UCN-10028A, Fujisawa WF-3405, Yoshitomi Y-25024, zorubicin, alpha-carotene, alpha-difluoromethyl-arginine, acitretin, Biotec AD-5, Kyorin AHC-52, alstonine, amonafide, amphethinile, amsacrine, Angiostat, ankinomycin, anti-neoplaston A10, antineoplaston A2, antineoplaston A3, antineoplaston A5, antineoplaston AS2-1, Henkel APD, aphidicolin glycinate, asparaginase, Avarol, baccharin, batracylin, benfluoron, benzotript, Ipsen-Beaufour BIM-23015, bisantrene, Bristol-Myers BMY-40481, Vestar boron-10, bromofosfamide, Wellcome BW-502, Wellcome BW-773, caracemide, carmethizole hydrochloride, Ajinomoto CDAF, chlorsulfaquinoxalone, Chemes CHX-2053, Chemex CHX-100, Warner-Lambert CI-921, Warner-Lambert CI-937, Warner-Lambert CI-941, Warner-Lambert CI-958, clanfenur, claviridenone, ICN compound 1259, ICN compound 4711, Contracan, Yakult Honsha CPT-11, crisnatol, curaderm, cytochalasin B, cytarabine, cytocytin, Merz D-609, DABIS maleate, dacarbazine, datelliptinium, didemnin-B, dihaematoporphyrin ether, dihydrolenperone, dinaline, distamycin, Toyo Pharmar DM-341, Toyo Pharmar DM-75, Daiichi Seiyaku DN-9693, elliprabin, elliptinium acetate, Tsumura EPMTC, ergotamine, etoposide, etretinate, fenretinide, Fujisawa FR-57704, gallium nitrate, genkwadaphnin, Chugai GLA-43, Glaxo GR-63178, grifolan NMF-5N, hexadecylphosphocholine, Green Cross HO-221, homoharringtonine, hydroxyurea, BTG ICRF-187, ilmofosine, isoglutamine, isotretinoin, Otsuka JI-36, Ramot K-477, Otsuak K-76COONa, Kureha Chemical K-AM, MECT Corp KI-8110, American Cyanamid L-623, leukoregulin, lonidamine, Lundbeck LU-23-112, Lilly LY-186641, NCI (US) MAP, marycin, Merrel Dow MDL-27048, Medco MEDR-340, merbarone, merocyanine derivatives, methylanilinoacridine, Molecular Genetics MGI-136, minactivin, mitonafide, mitoquidone, mopidamol, motretinide, Zenyaku Kogyo MST-16, N-(retinoyl)amino acids, Nisshin Flour Milling N-021, N-acylated-dehydroalanines, nafazatrom, Taisho NCU-190, nocodazole derivative, Normosang, NCI NSC-145813, NCI NSC-361456, NCI NSC-604782, NCI NSC-95580, octreotide, Ono ONO-112, oquizanocine, Akzo Org-10172, pancratistatin, pazelliptine, Warner-Lambert PD-111707, Warner-Lambert PD-115934, Warner-Lambert PD-131141, Pierre Fabre PE-1001, ICRT peptide D, piroxantrone, polyhaematoporphyrin, polypreic acid, Efamol porphyrin, probimane, procarbazine, proglumide, Invitron protease nexin I, Tobishi RA-700, razoxane, Sapporo Breweries RBS, restrictin-P, retelliptine, retinoic acid, Rhone-Poulenc RP-49532, Rhone-Poulenc RP-56976, SmithKline SK&F-104864, Sumitomo SM-108, Kuraray SMANCS, SeaPharm SP-10094, spatol, spirocyclopropane derivatives, spirogermanium, Unimed, SS Pharmaceutical SS-554, strypoldinone, Stypoldione, Suntory SUN 0237, Suntory SUN 2071, superoxide dismutase, Toyama T-506, Toyama T-680, taxol, Teijin TEI-0303, teniposide, thaliblastine, Eastman Kodak TJB-29, tocotrienol, Topostin, Teijin TT-82, Kyowa Hakko UCN-01, Kyowa Hakko UCN-1028, ukrain, Eastman Kodak USB-006, vinblastine sulfate, vincristine, vindesine, vinestramide, vinorelbine, vintriptol, vinzolidine, withanolides, Yamanouchi YM-534, AD-5, adchnon, amifostine analogues, detox, dimesna, 1-102, MM-159, N-acylated-dehydroalanines, TGF-Genentech, tiprotimod, amifostine, WR-151327, FUT-187, ketoprofen transdermal, nabumetone, and superoxide dismutase.

A benefit provided by the inventive compositions is the utilization of supercritical extraction, an innovative technology for extracting herbs at low temperature without the use of industrial chemical solvents. Such extraction process allows for the highest potency of active compounds in the extracts, as much as 250 times the potency of the original fresh plant material.

Set forth in Table I is a preferred embodiment of the orally administered composition, excluding inactive ingredients, as used in the inventive methods. The amounts recited in Table I represent the preferred dosage of the ingredients listed.

TABLE I Amount Herb Type Of Extract Plant Part (mg) Rosemary supercritical leaf 100 Rosemary hydroalcoholic (23% TPA - 34.5 mg) leaf 50 Turmeric supercritical (45% turmerones - 4.5 mg) rhizome 10 Turmeric hydroalcoholic (7% curcumin - 7 mg) rhizome 100 Ginger supercritical (30% pungent compounds - 16.2 rhizome 54 mg 8% zingiberene - 4.3 mg) Ginger hydroalcoholic (3% pungent compounds - 1.4 mg) rhizome 46 Holy basil hydroalcoholic (2% ursolic acid - 2 mg) leaf 100 Green tea hydroalcoholic (45% polyphenols - 45 mg) leaf 100 Huzhang hydroalcoholic (8% resveratrol - 6.4 mg) root & rhizome 80 Chinese hydroalcoholic (6% berberine - 2.4 mg) root 40 Goldthread Barberry hydroalcoholic (6% berberine - 2.4 mg) root 40 Oregano supercritical (0.8% TPA - 0.32 mg) leaf 40 Scutellaria hydroalcoholic (5:1) root 20 Baicalensis

Preferably, the composition set forth in Table I also includes extra virgin olive oil and yellow beeswax.

The inventive methods use a therapeutically effective amount of the active compositions indicated above. This effective amount will generally comprise from about 0.1 mg to about 100 mg of the active agent per kilogram of patient body weight per day. This effective amount can vary depending upon the physical status of the patient and other factors well known in the art. Moreover, it will be understood that this dosage of active agent can be administered in a single or multiple dosage units to provide the desired therapeutic effect. If desired, other therapeutic agents can be employed in conjunction with those provided by the present inventive subject matter.

The inventive methods use compositions which are preferably delivered to the patient by means of a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. Such carriers are well known in the art and generally will be in either solid or liquid form. Solid form pharmaceutical preparations which may be prepared according to the present inventive subject matter include powders, tablets, dispersible granules, capsules, and cachets. In general, solid form preparations will comprise from about 5% to about 90% by weight of the active agent.

A solid carrier can be one or more substances which may also act as diluents, flavoring agents, solubilizers, lubricants, suspending agents, binders or tablet disintegrating agents; it can also be encapsulating material. In powders, the carrier is a finely divided solid which is in admixture with the viscous active compound. In tablets, the active compound is mixed with a carrier having the necessary binding properties in suitable proportions and compacted to the shape and size desired. Suitable solid carriers include magnesium carbonate, magnesium stearate, talc, sugar, lactose, pectin, dextrin, starch, gelatin, tragacanth, methylcellulose, sodium carboxymethylcellulose, a low melting wax, cocoa butter, and the like. The term “preparation” is intended to include the formulation of the active compound with encapsulating materials as a carrier which may provide a capsule in which the active component (with or without other carriers) is surrounded by carrier, which is thus in association with it. Similarly, cachets are included. Tablets, powders, cachets, and capsules can be used as solid dosage forms suitable for oral administration.

If desired for reasons of convenience or patient acceptance, pharmaceutical tablets prepared according to the inventive subject matter may be provided in chewable form, using techniques well known in the art.

Also contemplated as suitable carriers are solid form preparations which are intended to be converted, shortly before use, to liquid form preparations for either oral or parenteral administration. Such liquid forms include solutions, suspensions, and emulsions. These particular solid form preparations are most conveniently provided in unit dose form and as such are used to provide a single liquid dosage unit. Alternately, sufficient solid may be provided so that after conversion to liquid form, multiple individual liquid doses may be obtained by measuring predetermined volumes of the liquid form preparation as with a syringe, teaspoon, or other volumetric container. When multiple liquid doses are so prepared, it is preferred to maintain the unused portion of said liquid doses at low temperature (i.e., under refrigeration) in order to retard possible decomposition. The solid form preparations intended to be converted to liquid form may contain, in addition to the active material, flavorants, colorants, stabilizers, buffers, artificial and natural sweeteners, dispersants, thickeners, solubilizing agents, and the like. The liquid utilized for preparing useful liquid form preparations may be water, isotonic water, ethanol, glycerine, propylene glycol, and the like as well as mixtures thereof. Naturally, the liquid utilized will be chosen with regard to the route of administration. For example, liquid preparations containing large amounts of ethanol are not suitable for parenteral use.

The pharmaceutical preparation may also be in a unit dosage form. In such form, the preparation is subdivided into unit doses containing appropriate quantities of the active component. The unit dosage form can be a packaged preparation, the package containing discrete quantities of preparation, for example, packeted tablets, capsules, and powders in vials or ampoules. The unit dosage form can also be a capsule, cachet, or tablet itself or it can be the appropriate number of any of these in packaged form.

The pharmaceutical preparations of the inventive subject matter may include one or more preservatives well known in the art, such as benzoic acid, sorbic acid, methylparaben, propylparaben and ethylenediaminetetra acetic acid (EDTA). Preservatives are generally present in amounts up to about 1% and preferably from about 0.05 to about 0.5% by weight of the pharmaceutical composition.

Useful buffers for purposes of the inventive subject matter include citric acid-sodium citrate, phosphoric acid-sodium phosphate, and acetic acid-sodium acetate in amounts up to about 1% and preferably from about 0.05 to about 0.5% by weight of the pharmaceutical composition. Useful suspending agents or thickeners include cellulosics like methylcellulose, carrageenans like alginic acid and its derivatives, xanthan gums, gelatin, acacia, and microcrystalline cellulose in amounts up to about 20% and preferably from about 1% to about 15% by weight of the pharmaceutical composition.

Sweeteners which may be employed include those sweeteners, both natural and artificial, well known in the art. Sweetening agents such as monosaccharides, disaccharides and polysaccharides such as xylose, ribose, glucose, mannose, galactose, fructose, dextrose, sucrose, maltose, partially hydrolyzed starch or corn syrup solids and sugar alcohols such as sorbitol, xylitol, mannitol and mixtures thereof may be utilized in amounts from about 10% to about 60% and preferably from about 20% to about 50% by weight of the pharmaceutical composition. Water soluble artificial sweeteners such as saccharin and saccharin salts such as sodium or calcium, cyclamate salts, acesulfame-K, aspartame and the like and mixtures thereof may be utilized in amounts from about 0.001% to about 5% by weight of the composition.

Flavorants which may be employed in the pharmaceutical products of the inventive subject matter include both natural and artificial flavors, and mints such as peppermint, menthol, vanilla, artificial vanilla, chocolate, artificial chocolate, cinnamon, various fruit flavors, both individually and mixed, in amounts from about 0.5% to about 5% by weight of the pharmaceutical composition.

Colorants useful in the present inventive subject matter include pigments which may be incorporated in amounts of up to about 6% by weight of the composition. A preferred pigment, titanium dioxide, may be incorporated in amounts up to about 1%. Also, the colorants may include other dyes suitable for food, drug and cosmetic applications, known as F.D.&C. dyes and the like. Such dyes are generally present in amounts up to about 0.25% and preferably from about 0.05% to about 0.2% by weight of the pharmaceutical composition. A full recitation of all F.D.&C. and D.&C. dyes and their corresponding chemical structures may be found in the Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology, in Volume 5, at pages 857-884, which text is accordingly incorporated herein by reference.

Useful solubilizers include alcohol, propylene glycol, polyethylene glycol and the like and may be used to solubilize the flavors. Solubilizing agents are generally present in amounts up to about 10%; preferably from about 2% to about 5% by weight of the pharmaceutical composition.

Lubricating agents which may be used when desired in the instant compositions include silicone oils or fluids such as substituted and unsubstituted polysiloxanes, e.g., dimethyl polysiloxane, also known as dimethicone. Other well known lubricating agents may be employed.

It is not expected that the inventive methods use compositions which will display significant adverse interactions with other synthetic or naturally occurring substances. Thus, a compound of the present inventive subject matter may be administered in combination with other compounds and compositions useful for treating glioblastoma. In particular the inventive methods use compositions which may be administered in combination with other inventive compositions, other antineoplastic substances, and the like.

The optimal pharmaceutical formulations will be determined by one skilled in the art depending upon considerations such as the route of administration and desired dosage. See, for example, “Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences”, 18th ed. (1990, Mack Publishing Co., Easton, Pa. 18042), pp. 1435-1712, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. Such formulations may influence the physical state, stability, rate of in vivo release, and rate of in vivo clearance of the present therapeutic agents of the inventive subject matter.

Methods for Modulating Gene Expression

To identify genes that mediate pro-apoptotic response, global gene expression changes were determined by oligonucleotide microarray (GeneChip® Human Genome U133A Affymetrix, Inc., containing 22,000 genes) in U87 cells. Data was collected at 30 minutes, 2 hours, and 24 hours after treatment with the inventive compositions in two independent experiments. No consistent changes in gene expression were detected after 30 minutes of treatment with the inventive compositions. However, as shown in Table II, at 2 hours after treatment, Applicants identified seven genes that were up-regulated, five of them belonging to the heat shock protein family, and two that were down-regulated more than two-fold compared to DMSO-treated control cells. At 24 hours, the expression of 84 genes was increased and of genes was decreased. The expression of five genes influenced by treatment with the inventive compositions has been confirmed by the real-time PCR analysis and is shown in Table III and IV.

TABLE II At 2 hours after treatment with the inventive compositions, seven genes were up-regulated and two were down-regulated more than 2-fold by the treatment with the inventive compositions in two experiments. Microarray Gene Gene Bank Fold change Gene name symbol number Exp1 Exp2 heat shock 70 kDa protein 1A HSPA1A NM_005345 4.9 7.0 heat shock 70 kDa protein 6 HSPA6 NM_002155 3.5 5.7 (HSP70B′) aldo-keto reductase family 1, AKR1C2 U05598 4.9 5.3 member C2 (dihydrodiol dehydrogenase 2; bile acid binding protein; 3-alpha hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, type III) heat shock 70 kDa protein 1B HSPA1B NM_005346 3.5 4.9 heme oxygenase (decycling) 1 HMOX1 NM_002133 4.3 4.6 solute carrier family 7, SLC7A11 AB040875 2.3 2.3 (cationic amino acid transporter, y+ system) member 11 DnaJ (Hsp40) homolog, DNAJB1 NM_006145 2.0 2.1 subfamily B, member 1 dual specificity phosphatase 6 DUSP6 BC003143 −2.5 −2.6 basic helix-loop-helix domain BHLHB2 NM_003670 −2.8 −3.7 containing, class B, 2

TABLE III At 24 hours after treatment with the inventive compositions, a total of 149 differentially expressed genes with more than 2-fold change in expression in both experiments were identified, the 84 which were up-regulated are shown. Genes that increased in expression after treatment Microarray Q-PCR Gene Gene Bank Fold change Fold change Gene name symbol number Exp1 Exp2 Exp1 Exp2 interleukin 1, beta IL1B NM_000576 7.7 27.9 N.D. 49.8 heme oxygenase (decycling) 1 HMOX1 NM_002133 8.6 11.3 19.6 14.4 interleukin 1, alpha IL1A M15329 4.3 8.0 15.6 11.2 colony stimulating factor 3 (granulocyte) CSF3 NM_000759 5.7 8.0 N.D. N.D. leukemia inhibitory factor LIF NM_002309 7.0 4.0 N.D. N.D. (cholinergic differentiation factor) serine (or cysteine) SERPINB2 NM_002575 3.7 7.0 N.D. N.D. proteinase inhibitor, clade B (ovalbumin), member 2 hypothetical protein FLJ22761 FLJ22761 NM_025130 3.5 5.7 N.D. N.D. neuregulin 1 NRG1 NM_013959 3.5 4.0 N.D. N.D. aldo-keto reductase family 1, AKR1C2 U05598 4.6 3.0 19.2 15.2 member C2 (dihydrodiol dehydrogenase 2; bile acid binding protein; 3-alpha hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, type III) synovial sarcoma, X breakpoint 1 SSX1 NM_005635 2.0 11.3 N.D. N.D. interleukin 8 IL8 AF043337 2.5 8.0 N.D. N.D. epiregulin EREG NM_001432 3.0 8.0 N.D. N.D. hepatitis delta antigen- DIPA BE966372 2.6 7.0 N.D. N.D. interacting protein A dual specificity phosphatase 6 DUSP6 BC005047 2.6 6.5 N.D. N.D. kynureninase (L-kynurenine hydrolase) KYNU BC000879 2.3 4.6 N.D. N.D. dual specificity phosphatase 6 DUSP6 BC003143 3.0 4.0 N.D. N.D. interleukin 8 IL8 NM_000584 2.0 4.0 N.D. N.D. chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 3 CXCL3 NM_002090 2.8 3.7 N.D. N.D. dual specificity phosphatase 6 DUSP6 BC003143 2.6 3.5 N.D. N.D. kynureninase (L-kynurenine hydrolase) KYNU NM_003937 2.3 3.5 N.D. N.D. chromosome 8 open reading frame 4 C8orf4 NM_020130 2.3 3.2 N.D. N.D. chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 2 CXCL2 M57731 2.3 3.2 N.D. N.D. hypothetical protein FLJ13105 FLJ13105 NM_025001 2.6 3.2 N.D. N.D. sequestosome 1 SQSTM1 N30649 2.8 3.0 N.D. N.D. phosphoprotein regulated by C8FW NM_025195 3.0 3.0 N.D. N.D. mitogenic pathways aldo-keto reductase family 1, AKR1C2 BF508244 4.6 3.0 N.D. N.D. member C2 (dihydrodiol dehydrogenase 2; bile acid binding protein; 3-alpha hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, type III) aldo-keto reductase family 1, AKR1C1 S68290 2.5 3.0 N.D. N.D. member C1 (dihydrodiol dehydrogenase 1; 20-alpha (3-alpha)-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase) spermidine/spermine N1- SAT M55580 2.3 3.0 N.D. N.D. acetyltransferase pregnancy-induced growth inhibitor OKL38 NM_013370 3.7 3.0 N.D. N.D. diphtheria toxin receptor DTR NM_001945 2.0 2.8 N.D. N.D. (heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor) immediate early response 3 IER3 NM_003897 2.1 2.8 N.D. N.D. DEAD (Asp-Glu-Ala-Asp) DDX10 NM_004398 3.2 2.6 N.D. N.D. box polypeptide 10 solute carrier family 3 SLC3A2 NM_002394 2.0 2.6 N.D. N.D. (activators of dibasic and neutral amino acid transport), member 2 NA NA AA488687 2.5 2.6 N.D. N.D. NA NA M27830 24.3 2.5 N.D. N.D. spermidine/spermine N1- SAT NM_002970 2.1 2.5 N.D. N.D. acetyltransferase BCL2-associated athanogene BAG1 AF116273 2.3 2.5 N.D. N.D. kynureninase (L-kynurenine hydrolase) KYNU BC000879 4.3 2.5 N.D. N.D. cAMP responsive element modulator CREM D14826 2.1 2.5 N.D. N.D. aldo-keto reductase family 1, AKR1C2 M33376 2.0 2.5 N.D. N.D. member C2 (dihydrodiol dehydrogenase 2; bile acid binding protein; 3-alpha hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, type III) v-maf musculoaponeurotic MAFF AL021977 2.0 2.5 N.D. N.D. fibrosarcoma oncogene homolog F (avian) uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase UROD AW614435 2.6 2.5 N.D. N.D. solute carrier family 25 SLC25A6 AI961224 2.1 2.5 N.D. N.D. (mitochondrial carrier; adenine nucleotide translocator), member 6 cathepsin L CTSL NM_001912 2.3 2.5 N.D. N.D. ornithine decarboxylase 1 ODC1 NM_002539 2.1 2.5 N.D. N.D. dual specificity phosphatase 1 DUSP1 NM_004417 2.5 2.5 N.D. N.D. glucosaminyl (N-acetyl) GCNT3 NM_004751 5.3 2.5 N.D. N.D. transferase 3, mucin type galactosidase, alpha GLA NM_000169 2.3 2.3 N.D. N.D. hypothetical protein FLJ20489 FLJ20489 H14241 2.6 2.3 N.D. N.D. deleted in liver cancer 1 DLC1 AF026219 2.5 2.3 N.D. N.D. thioredoxin reductase 1 TXNRD1 NM_003330 2.3 2.3 N.D. N.D. glutamate-cysteine ligase, GCLM NM_002061 2.1 2.3 N.D. N.D. modifier subunit NAD(P)H dehydrogenase, quinone 1 NQO1 AI039874 2.3 2.3 N.D. N.D. GABA(A) receptors GABARAPL3 AF180519 3.2 2.3 N.D. N.D. associated protein like 3 decay accelerating factor for DAF NM_000574 3.0 2.3 N.D. N.D. complement (CD55, Cromer blood group system) aminolevulinate, delta-, synthase 1 ALAS1 NM_000688 2.6 2.3 N.D. N.D. prostaglandin-endoperoxide PTGS2 NM_000963 2.1 2.3 N.D. N.D. synthase 2 (prostaglandin G/H synthase and cyclooxygenase) nuclear receptor interacting protein 1 NRIP1 AI824012 2.0 2.3 N.D. N.D. retinoic acid induced 3 RAI3 NM_003979 2.0 2.3 N.D. N.D. synovial sarcoma, X breakpoint 1 SSX1 BC001003 2.1 2.1 N.D. N.D. hypothetical protein LOC54103 LOC54103 AK026747 2.1 2.1 N.D. N.D. NA NA M11167 4.0 2.1 N.D. N.D. C2f protein C2F U72514 2.3 2.1 N.D. N.D. prostaglandin E synthase PTGES AF010316 2.6 2.1 N.D. N.D. synovial sarcoma, X breakpoint 3 SSX3 X79200 2.3 2.1 N.D. N.D. tetratricopeptide repeat domain 4 TTC4 NM_004623 2.3 2.1 N.D. N.D. annexin A10 ANXA10 AF196478 2.3 2.1 N.D. N.D. synovial sarcoma, X breakpoint 2 SSX2 AF257500 2.1 2.0 N.D. N.D. TRAF and TNF receptor associated protein TTRAP NM_016614 2.5 2.0 N.D. N.D. tripartite motif-containing 16 TRIM16 NM_006470 2.3 2.0 N.D. N.D. a disintegrin-like and ADAMTS5 NM_007038 2.5 2.0 N.D. N.D. metalloprotease (reprolysin type) with thrombospondin type 1 motif, 5 (aggrecanase-2) NA NA NM_014903 2.0 2.0 N.D. N.D. jumonji homolog (mouse) JMJ NM_004973 2.5 2.0 N.D. N.D. peptidylprolyl isomerase F (cyclophilin F) PPIF BC005020 2.1 2.0 N.D. N.D. piccolo (presynaptic cytomatrix protein) PCLO AB011131 2.0 2.0 N.D. N.D. sphingosine kinase 1 SPHK1 NM_021972 2.6 2.0 N.D. N.D. solute carrier family 7, SLC7A11 AB040875 2.3 2.0 N.D. N.D. (cationic amino acid transporter, y+ system) member 11 NAD(P)H dehydrogenase, quinone 1 NQO1 BC000906 2.0 2.0 N.D. N.D. tetratricopeptide repeat domain 4 TTC4 W22690 2.3 2.0 N.D. N.D. nuclear receptor interacting protein 1 NRIP1 NM_003489 2.1 2.0 N.D. N.D. glutamate-cysteine ligase, catalytic subunit GCLC NM_001498 2.1 2.0 N.D. N.D.

TABLE IV At 24 hours after treatment with the inventive compositions, a total of 149 differentially expressed genes with more than 2-fold change in expression in both experiments were identified, the 65 which were down-regulated are shown. Genes that decreased in expression after treatment Microarray Q-PCR Gene Gene Bank Fold change Fold change Gene name symbol number Exp1 Exp2 Exp1 Exp2 fatty acid binding FABP3 AI041520 −3.7 17.1 N.D. N.D. protein 3, muscle and heart (mammary-derived growth inhibitor) collagen, type I, alpha 2 COL1A2 NM_000089 −3.5 −4.9 N.D. N.D. single-stranded SSBP2 NM_012446 −3.5 −4.6 −10.6 −3.2 DNA binding protein 2 lysyl oxidase-like 1 LOXL1 NM_005576 −4.3 −4.3 N.D. N.D. leucine rich repeat LRRC17 NM_005824 −3.5 −4.0 N.D. N.D. containing 17 thioredoxin TXNIP AI439556 −4.3 −3.5 N.D. N.D. interacting protein chromosome 5 C5orf13 NM_004772 −3.7 −3.5 N.D. N.D. open reading frame 13 carbonic anhydrase XII CA12 BC000278 −3.2 −2.0 N.D. N.D. Tara-like protein HRIHFB2122 AF281030 −2.6 −2.0 N.D. N.D. N-myc downstream NDRG1 NM_006096 −2.3 −2.0 N.D. N.D. regulated gene 1 hypothetical protein FLJ20151 FLJ20151 BC001012 −2.1 −2.0 N.D. N.D. collagen, type V, alpha 1 COL5A1 AI130969 −2.6 −2.0 N.D. N.D. tumor necrosis factor receptor TNFRSF9 BC006196 −2.3 −2.0 N.D. N.D. superfamily, member 9 NA NA NM_017635 −2.1 −2.0 N.D. N.D. stearoyl-CoA desaturase (delta- SCD AB032261 −2.0 −2.0 N.D. N.D. 9-desaturase) collagen, type V, alpha 1 COL5A1 AI983428 −2.6 −2.0 N.D. N.D. nuclear receptor NR2F2 AL554245 −2.6 −2.0 N.D. N.D. subfamily 2, group F, member 2 old astrocyte OASIS BG328407 −6.1 −2.1 N.D. N.D. specifically induced substance inhibitor of DNA ID2 NM_002166 −3.2 −2.1 N.D. N.D. binding 2, dominant negative helix-loop- helix protein artemin ARTN NM_003976 −2.8 −2.1 N.D. N.D. chondroitin sulfate CSPG2 D32039 −2.8 −2.1 N.D. N.D. proteoglycan 2 (versican) S100 calcium S100A3 NM_002960 −2.1 −2.1 N.D. N.D. binding protein A3 stearoyl-CoA SCD AF116616 −14.9 −2.1 N.D. N.D. desaturase (delta- 9-desaturase) WNT1 inducible WISP1 NM_003882 −2.1 −2.1 N.D. N.D. signaling pathway protein 1 solute carrier family 2 SLC2A1 NM_006516 −3.2 −2.1 N.D. N.D. (facilitated glucose transporter), member 1 KIAA0876 protein KIAA0876 AW237172 −2.5 −2.1 N.D. N.D. protocadherin PCDHGA3 AF152509 −21.1 −2.3 N.D. N.D. gamma subfamily A, 3 matrilin 2 MATN2 NM_002380 −2.1 −2.3 N.D. N.D. artemin ARTN AF115765 −3.0 −2.3 N.D. N.D. intermediate SYNCOILIN NM_030786 −2.3 −2.3 N.D. N.D. filament protein syncoilin paternally expressed 10 PEG10 BE858180 −6.1 −2.3 N.D. N.D. hypothetical protein FLJ20716 FLJ20716 NM_017938 −2.3 −2.3 N.D. N.D. insulin-like growth IGFBP3 BF340228 −5.3 −2.3 N.D. N.D. factor binding protein 3 hypothetical protein FLJ10970 FLJ10970 NM_018286 −2.3 −2.3 N.D. N.D. chromosome 14 C14orf132 NM_020215 −2.0 −2.3 N.D. N.D. open reading frame 132 lanosterol synthase LSS AW084510 −2.3 −2.5 N.D. N.D. (2,3-oxidosqualene- lanosterol cyclase) KIAA0367 protein KIAA0367 AB002365 −2.3 −2.5 N.D. N.D. hypothetical protein LOC284266 LOC284266 AK025833 −3.0 −2.5 N.D. N.D. calcium/calmodulin- CaMKIINalpha NM_018584 −2.1 −2.5 N.D. N.D. dependent protein kinase II dudulin 2 TSAP6 NM_018234 −2.3 −2.5 N.D. N.D. 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl- HMGCS1 BG035985 −2.1 −2.5 N.D. N.D. Coenzyme A synthase 1 (soluble) collagen, type V, alpha 1 COL5A1 N30339 −2.0 −2.5 N.D. N.D. nuclear receptor subfamily 2, NR2F2 AV703465 −2.1 −2.5 N.D. N.D. group F, member 2 kinesin family member 20A KIF20A NM_005733 −2.5 −2.5 N.D. N.D. paternally expressed 10 PEG10 AL582836 −2.5 −2.5 N.D. N.D. growth associated protein 43 GAP43 NM_002045 −2.5 −2.5 N.D. N.D. lanosterol synthase LSS D63807 −6.5 −2.5 N.D. N.D. (2,3-oxidosqualene- lanosterol cyclase) papillomavirus PBF NM_018660 −3.0 −2.6 N.D. N.D. regulatory factor PRF-1 hypothetical protein DKFZp434K1210 NM_017606 −2.6 −2.8 N.D. N.D. DKFZp434K1210 thioredoxin TXNIP NM_006472 −5.3 −2.8 N.D. N.D. interacting protein chromosome 14 C14orf139 NM_024633 −2.3 −2.8 N.D. N.D. open reading frame 139 hypothetical protein LOC283824 LOC283824 AI693140 −2.0 −2.8 N.D. N.D. fatty acid binding protein 3, muscle FABP3 NM_004102 −3.5 −3.0 N.D. N.D. and heart (mammary-derived growth inhibitor) collagen, type I, alpha 1 COL1A1 AI743621 −2.8 −2.8 N.D. N.D. collagen, type I, alpha 1 COL1A1 K01228 −3.7 −3.0 N.D. N.D. protease, serine, 23 SPUVE NM_007173 −2.3 −3.0 N.D. N.D. thioredoxin interacting protein TXNIP AA812232 −9.8 −3.2 N.D. N.D. guanylate binding protein 1, GBP1 NM_002053 −2.5 −3.2 N.D. N.D. interferon-inducible, 67 kDa inhibitor of DNA ID3 NM_002167 −2.0 −3.2 N.D. N.D. binding 3, dominant negative helix-loop- helix protein old astrocyte specifically OASIS AF055009 −2.5 −3.5 N.D. N.D. induced substance synaptopodin SYNPO NM_007286 −3.0 −3.7 N.D. N.D. DKFZP586A0522 protein DKFZP586A0522 NM_014033 −3.0 −3.7 N.D. N.D. single-stranded DNA binding SSBP2 AF077048 −2.6 −3.7 N.D. N.D. protein 2 leucine rich repeat neuronal 3 LRRN3 AI221950 −2.6 −4.6 N.D. N.D. hepatitis delta DIPA NM_006848 −2.3 −12.1 N.D. N.D. antigen-interacting protein A

Surprisingly, two known pro-inflammatory genes, IL-1α and IL-1β, were dramatically up-regulated in expression upon treatment with the inventive compositions. Upon up-regulation of heat shock protein family genes, the inventive compositions would be expected to produce a strong protective response in treated glioblastoma cells. But clearly any such response produced is insufficient to protect those cells from apoptosis. Thus, it is not clear whether induction of the protective heat shock cellular mechanism is necessary for the efficient induction of an apoptotic response, or whether the GBM cell killing would be enhanced if this response is prevented or diminished. In any event, Applicants expect that some or all of the genes up-regulated in response to treatment with the inventive compositions, individually or collectively, induce apoptosis.

Without being bound to a particular mechanism of action, the obtained results suggest that phytonutrients, which are present in the herbal preparation of the inventive compositions, modulate the expression of genes involved in regulation of apoptosis and inflammation, and individually or collectively induce apoptosis in glioblastoma cells.

Thus, the inventive subject matter further relates to methods for modulating gene expression in a target cell of one or more genes selected from the group consisting of: interleukin-1α, interleukin-1β, heme oxygenase 1, aldo-keto reductase family 1, member C2, colony stimulating factor 3, leukemia inhibitory factor, heat shock 70 kDa protein, and combinations thereof, comprising administration of an effective amount of a composition comprising therapeutically effective amounts of supercritical extracts of rosemary, turmeric, oregano and ginger; and therapeutically effective amounts of hydroalcoholic extracts of holy basil, ginger, turmeric, Scutellaria baicalensis, rosemary, green tea, huzhang, Chinese goldthread, and barberry.

In one aspect of the inventive subject matter, said composition is administered orally.

In another aspect of the inventive subject matter, said orally administered composition is in the form of one or more capsules, one or more tablets, or one or more pills.

In a preferred embodiment, said composition comprises:

-   -   (A) from about 4.5% to about 7.5% by weight of the         hydroalcoholic extract of ginger;     -   (B) from about 5.5% to about 8.5% by weight of the supercritical         extract of ginger;     -   (C) from about 1.0% to about 1.5% by weight of the supercritical         extract of turmeric;     -   (D) from about 10.0% to about 16.0% by weight of the         supercritical extract of rosemary;     -   (E) from about 4.0% to about 6.0% by weight of the supercritical         extract of oregano;     -   (F) from about 10.0% to about 16.0% by weight of the         hydroalcoholic extract of turmeric;     -   (G) from about 5.5% to about 8.0% by weight of the         hydroalcoholic extract of rosemary;     -   (H) from about 10.0% to about 16.0% by weight of the         hydroalcoholic extract of holy basil;     -   (I) from about 10.0% to about 16.0% by weight of the         hydroalcoholic extract of green tea;     -   (J) from about 8.0% to about 12.0% by weight of the         hydroalcoholic extract of huzhang;     -   (K) from about 4.0% to about 6.0% by weight of the         hydroalcoholic extract of Chinese goldthread;     -   (L) from about 4.0% to about 6.0% by weight of the         hydroalcoholic extract of barberry; and     -   (M) from about 2.0% to about 3.0% by weight of the         hydroalcoholic extract of Scutellaria baicalensis.

It is expected that one or more of the proteins described herein controls, or contributes to controlling, cellular apoptosis. Without being bound to a particular mechanism of action, it is further expected that by administering an inventive composition, alone or in combination with other therapeutic compounds and compositions, the apoptotic process is up-regulated, resulting in cell death of target cell line(s), such as cancer cells, and in particular GBM cells.

Heme oxygenase (decycling) 1 (hereinafter “HMOX1”) is an inducible enzyme of the heat shock protein family that is essential in heme catabolism, where it cleaves heme to form biliverdin. It is one of the key cellular defensive enzymes, is involved in regulation of the I-kappaB kinase/NF-kappaB cascade, has signal transducer activity and oxidoreductase activity, and plays a protective role as an antioxidant in the lung and antagonizes inflammation in an animal skin wound model (see Wagener F A, van Beurden H E, von den Hoff J W et al: The heme-heme oxygenase system: a molecular switch in wound healing. Blood 102:521-528, 2003). Its role in GBM is presently unknown, but Applicants expect it to be important because it appears to plays a role in regulation of apoptosis. As shown in FIG. 2, administration of the inventive compositions up-regulates expression of HMOX1 protein in U87 GBM cell line after 24 hours of stimulation.

Aldo-keto reductase family 1, member C2 (hereinafter “AKR1C2”) is a member of the aldo-oxo reductase superfamily that has been implicated in the metabolism of glucocorticoids, progestins, bile acid precursors, COX-2-derived prostaglandins and xenobiotic carbonyl compounds and thus Applicants expect it to be important in GBM tumorigenesis. In comparison, in prostate cells it prevents activation of androgen receptor (see Rizner T L, Lin H K, Peehl D M et al: Human type 3 3-alpha-hydroxysteroid dehdydrogenase (aldo-keto reductase 1 C2) and androgen metabolism in prostate cells. Endocrinol, 144:2922-2932, 2003).

Heat shock 70 kDa protein 1A (hereinafter “HSPA1A”), heat shock 70 kDa protein 1B (hereinafter “HSPA1B”), and heat shock 70 kDa protein 6 (hereinafter “HSPA6”) are members of the heat shock family of inducible genes, and which appear to be involved in response to heat shock and other physiological challenges, protein folding and molecular chaperoning, mRNA catabolism, and ATP binding.

Interleukin-1A (hereinafter “IL1A”) gene encodes IL-1α protein, which is a member of the interleukin 1 cytokine family. This cytokine is a pleiotropic cytokine involved in various immune responses, inflammatory processes, and hematopoiesis. This cytokine is produced by monocytes and macrophages as a proprotein, which is proteolytically processed and released in response to cell injury, and thus induces apoptosis.

Interleukin-1B (hereinafter “IL1B”) gene encodes IL-1β protein, which is a member of the interleukin 1 cytokine family. This cytokine is produced by activated macrophages as a proprotein, which is proteolytically processed to its active form by caspase 1 (CASP1/ICE). This cytokine is an important mediator of the inflammatory response, and is involved in a variety of cellular activities, including cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. The induction of cyclooxygenase-2 (PTGS2/COX2) by this cytokine in the central nervous system (CNS) is found to contribute to inflammatory pain hypersensitivity.

Colony stimulating factor 3 (hereinafter “CSF3”) gene encodes colony stimulating factor 3 protein, which is a cytokine that controls the production, differentiation, and function of granulocytes. The active protein is found extracellularly.

Leukemia inhibitory factor (hereinafter “LIF”) gene encodes leukemia inhibitory factor protein, which is a cytokine that induces macrophage differentiation. Neurotransmitters and neuropeptides, well known for their role in the communication between neurons, are also capable of activating monocytes and macrophages and inducing chemotaxis in immune cells.

Solute carrier family 7, (cationic amino acid transporter, y+ system) member 11 (hereinafter “LC7A11”) is a member of a heteromeric Na(+)-independent anionic amino acid transport system highly specific for cystine and glutamate. In addition to cystine:glutamate antiporter activity, SLC7A11 is involved in protein complex assembly, amino acid transport, and has amino acid permease activity.

DnaJ homolog, subfamily B, member 1 (hereinafter “DNAJB1”), also known as Hsp40, is a member of the heat shock family of inducible genes, and which appears to be involved in response to heat shock and other physiological challenges, protein folding, and molecular chaperoning.

Dual specificity phosphatase 6 (hereinafter “DUSP6”) is a protein tyrosine phosphatase which appears to be involved in cell cycle regulation, particularly regulation of mitogen-activated protein kinase, protein amino acid dephosphorylation, and apoptosis. This phosphatase inactivates its target kinase(s) by dephosphorylating both the phosphoserine/threonine and phosphotyrosine residues. DUSP6 has protein serine/threonine phosphatase activity, protein tyrosine phosphatase activity, hydrolase activity, and MAP kinase phosphatase activity.

Basic helix-loop-helix domain containing, class B, 2 (hereinafter “BHLHB2”) encodes a basic helix-loop-helix protein expressed in various tissues. Expression in the chondrocytes is responsive to the addition of Bt2cAMP and is believed to be involved in the control of cell differentiation. BHLHB2 is involved in DNA-dependent regulation of transcription and has transcription factor activity.

Route(s) of Administration

The compounds and compositions are preferably administered orally in the form of capsules, tablets, aqueous suspensions, or solutions. Tablets may contain carriers such as lactose and corn starch, and/or lubricating agents such as magnesium stearate. Capsules may contain diluents including lactose and dried corn starch. Aqueous suspensions may contain emulsifying and suspending agents combined with the active ingredient. The oral dosage forms may further contain sweetening, flavoring, coloring agents, or combinations thereof. Delivery in an enterically coated tablet, caplet, or capsule, to further enhance stability and provide release in the intestinal tract to improve absorption, is the best mode of administration currently contemplated.

Dosage

Dosage levels on the order of about 0.001 mg to about 100 mg per kilogram body weight of the active ingredient compounds or compositions are useful in the treatment of the above conditions, with preferred levels ranging from 200 mg per day to 1600 mg per day. The compounds and compositions of the present inventive subject matter may usually be given in two or three doses daily. Starting with a low dose (200-300 mg) twice daily and slowly working up to higher doses if needed is a preferred strategy. The amount of active ingredient that may be combined with the carrier materials to produce a single dosage form will vary depending upon the host treated and the particular mode of administration.

It is understood, however, that a specific dose level for any particular patient will depend upon a variety of factors, including the activity of the specific compound employed; the age, body weight, general health, sex and diet of the patient; the time of administration; the rate of excretion; drug combination; the severity of the particular disorder being treated; and the form of administration. One of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate the variability of such factors and would be able to establish specific dose levels using no more than routine experimentation.

EXAMPLES

The following examples are illustrative of the present inventive subject matter and are not intended to be limitations thereon. Unless otherwise indicated, all percentages are based upon 100% by weight of the final composition.

Example 1 Preparation of the Inventive Compositions

The inventive compositions are prepared by methods known in the art, and disclosed in Applicants' U.S. Pat. No. 6,387,416. The preparation of the component elements of the inventive compositions is summarized as follows:

The hydroalcoholic extract of ginger used in the inventive compositions is preferably prepared as follows. The ginger rhizome, which is preferably cryogenically ground to preserve heat sensitive components, is subjected to supercritical extraction to obtain: (i) an oil extract, referred to herein as “the supercritical extract” of ginger, containing delicate lipophilic components, and (ii) an oil-free residue. The oil-free residue is then extracted in a water/alcohol, preferably water/ethanol, mixture composed of 60-80 parts alcohol and 40-20 parts water. The alcohol/water liquid is then evaporated off, leaving a powdered extract residue, referred to herein as “the hydroalcoholic extract” of ginger.

The composition of this invention will preferably contain the supercritical extract and the hydroalcoholic extract of ginger at a weight ratio of preferably from about 0.9 to about 1.4 parts, more preferably from about 1.1 to about 1.3 parts, most preferably about 1.17 parts, of supercritical extract per 1 part post-supercritical hydroalcoholic extract.

The supercritical extracts of ginger, rosemary, turmeric and oregano used in the inventive compositions can be prepared according to known supercritical extraction methods, such as disclosed, e.g., in E. Stahl, K. W. Quirin, D. Gerard, Dense Gases for Extraction and Refining, Springer Verlag 4 1988, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.

The hydroalcoholic extracts of rosemary, turmeric, holy basil, green tea, huzhang, Chinese goldthread, barberry and Scutellaria baicalensis used in the inventive compositions can be prepared according to conventional hydroalcoholic extraction techniques. For example, the hydroalcoholic extracts can be prepared by extracting the plant portion in a water/alcohol (preferably water/ethanol) mixture (preferably composed of 60-80 parts alcohol and 40-20 parts water), and then evaporating off the water/alcohol liquid, leaving a powdered extract residue (referred to herein as “the hydroalcoholic extract”).

In the composition of this invention, the hydroalcoholic extract of turmeric and the supercritical extract of turmeric will preferably be present at a weight ratio of preferably from about 8 to about 12 parts, more preferably from about 9 parts to about 11 parts, most preferably about 10 parts, of hydroalcoholic extract per 1 part of supercritical extract.

The composition of this invention will preferably contain the supercritical extract of rosemary and the hydroalcoholic extract of rosemary at a weight ratio of preferably from about 1.6 to about 2.4 parts, more preferably from about 1.8 to about 2.2 parts, most preferably about 2.0 parts, of supercritical extract per 1 part of hydroalcoholic extract.

The hydroalcoholic extract of ginger used in the inventive compositions will preferably contain from about 2.4% to about 3.6%, more preferably from about 2.7% to about 3.3%, most preferably about 3.0%, by weight of pungent compounds (e.g., shogaol).

The supercritical extract of ginger used in the inventive compositions will contain preferably from about 24% to about 36%, more preferably from about 27% to about 33%, most preferably about 30%, by weight of pungent compounds (e.g., shogaol) and preferably from about 6.4% to about 9.6%, more preferably from about 7.2% to about 8.8%, most preferably about 8%, by weight of zingiberene.

The supercritical extract of turmeric used in the inventive compositions will contain preferably from about 36% to about 54%, more preferably from about 40.5% to about 49.5%, most preferably about 45%, by weight of turmerones.

The supercritical extract of rosemary used in the inventive compositions will contain preferably from about 18.4% to about 27.6%, more preferably from about 20.7% to about 25.3%, most preferably about 23%, by weight of total phenolic antioxidants (“TPA”).

The supercritical extract of oregano used in the inventive compositions will contain preferably from about 0.64% to about 0.96%, more preferably from about 0.72% to about 0.88%, most preferably about 0.8%, by weight of TPA.

The hydroalcoholic extract of turmeric used in the inventive compositions will contain preferably from about 5.6% to about 8.4%, more preferably from about 6.3% to about 7.7%, most preferably about 7%, by weight of curcumin.

The hydroalcoholic extract of rosemary used in the inventive compositions will contain preferably from about 18.4% to about 27.6%, more preferably from about 20.7% to about 25.3%, most preferably about 23%, by weight of TPA.

The hydroalcoholic extract of holy basil used in the inventive compositions will contain preferably from about 1.6% to about 2.4%, more preferably from about 1.8% to about 2.2%, most preferably about 2%, by weight of ursolic acid.

The hydroalcoholic extract of green tea used in the inventive compositions will contain preferably from about 36% to about 54%, more preferably from about 40.5% to about 49.5%, most preferably about 45%, by weight of polyphonies.

The hydroalcoholic extract of huzhang used in the inventive compositions will contain preferably from about 6.4% to about 9.6%, more preferably from about 7.2% to about 8.8%, most preferably about 8%, by weight of resveratrol.

The hydroalcoholic extract of Chinese goldthread used in the inventive compositions will contain preferably from about 4.8% to about 7.2%, more preferably from about 5.4% to about 6.6%, most preferably about 6%, by weight of berberine.

The hydroalcoholic extract of barberry used in the inventive compositions will contain preferably from about 4.8% to about 7.2%, more preferably from about 5.4% to about 6.6%, most preferably about 6%, by weight of berberine.

Example 2 Effect of the Inventive Compositions on Glioblastoma Cells

The inventive compositions, diluted in DMSO at 0.1_l/ml, induced apoptosis of U87 cells compared to olive oil/DMSO control at 48 hours (55.3% vs. 1.7%) as determined by TUNNEL analysis. These results, as shown in FIG. 2, demonstrate that the inventive compositions strongly suppress U87 cells and induce apoptosis. Exponentially grown U87 cells in DMEM with 1% FBS were treated with Zyflamend or olive oil at final concentration of 0.1 microl/ml, or left untreated. After 24 hours, floating and attached cells were collected, fixed in 1% paraformaldehyde in phosphate buffered saline (PBS), washed in PBS, resuspended in 70% ethanol and analyzed by flow cytometry. The APO-BRDU kit, a two color staining method for labeling DNA breaks and total cellular DNA was used to detect apoptotic cells. Percentage of apoptotic cells is indicated in the upper right corner of each panel of FIG. 2.

Example 3 Effect of the Inventive Compositions on Gene Expression

In two independent experiments, total RNA was isolated from U87 cells at 2 hours and 24 hours after treatment with the inventive compositions and in vitro transcripts were hybridized to GeneChip® Human Genome U133A Affymetrix oligonucleotide microarray. In total, at 2 hours after treatment with the inventive compositions, Applicants identified 7 genes that were up-regulated, five of which belong to the heat shock protein family, and two genes that were down-regulated more than 2-fold in both experiments compared to the DMSO-treated control cells. At 24 hours, the expression of 84 genes was increased and of 65 genes was decreased. The expression of eight genes influenced by treatment with the inventive compositions has been confirmed by the real-time PCR analysis and immunoblotting evaluation is in progress.

Unexpectedly, the expression of interleukin-1_ and interleukin-1_genes, potent mediators of inflammation and immunity, was significantly induced, up to 30-fold, at 24 hours after treatment with the inventive compositions of U87 cells. The IL-1 cytokine is known to be produced in response to cell injury, but it remains to be demonstrated that it plays a role in induction of apoptosis by the inventive compositions in U87 glioblastoma cells. Regardless of the mechanism of action, the obtained results suggest that naturally occurring COX-2 and 5-LO inhibitors from the inventive herbal preparation modulate the expression of functionally diverse groups of genes, including those involved in regulation of apoptosis and inflammation, that collectively induce apoptosis in glioblastoma cell line U87.

Example 4 Effect of the Inventive Compositions on Pre-Malignant Glioblastoma

A patient presents for treatment of a low-grade or high-grade neoplasm of the central nervous system. An inventive composition is administered to said patient over a course of treatment lasting for several weeks, resulting in no significant side effects. The patient experiences a reversal in the growth of neoplastic cells and death of existing neoplastic cells, resulting in the neoplasia becoming undetectable.

Example 5 Effect of the Inventive Compositions on Glioblastoma

A patient presents for treatment of a malignant grade IV glioblastoma of the central nervous system, confirmed by manual examination and biopsy of the tumor. An inventive composition is administered to said patient over a course of treatment lasting for several months, resulting in no significant side effects. The patient experiences a reversal in the growth rate of tumor cells, death of existing tumor cells and reduction in tumor size, and no metastasis of the tumor. With continuing treatment, the patient continues to exhibit no secondary symptoms of glioblastoma, no long term side effects of the treatment, and no metastasis of the tumor.

Example 6 UP-Regulation of HMOX-1

Protein extracts were prepared from human U87 GBM cells treated with the inventive compositions (“ZYF”), DMSO control (“DMSO”), or non-treated (“NT”) cells at 2 and 24 hours after stimulation. Immunoblotting with anti-Heme Oxygenase-1 (HMOX-1) monoclonal antibodies obtained from Stressgen Biotechnology, Canada was done according to recommended protocol. As shown in FIG. 2, administration of the inventive compositions up-regulates expression of HMOX-1 protein in U87 GBM cell line after 24 hours of stimulation.

The inventive subject matter being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be modified or varied in many ways. Such modifications and variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the inventive subject matter and all such modifications and variations are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims. 

1. A method for treating glioblastoma in a subject in need thereof, comprising the step of administering an effective amount of a composition to said subject sufficient to treat said glioblastoma, said composition comprising therapeutically effective amounts of supercritical extracts of rosemary, turmeric, oregano and ginger; and therapeutically effective amounts of hydroalcoholic extracts of holy basil, ginger, turmeric, Scutellaria baicalensis, rosemary, green tea, huzhang, Chinese goldthread, and barberry.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein said composition is administered orally.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the orally administered composition is in the form of one or more capsules, one or more tablets, or one or more pills.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the composition comprises: (A) from about 4.5% to about 7.5% by weight of the hydroalcoholic extract of ginger; (B) from about 5.5% to about 8.5% by weight of the supercritical extract of ginger; (C) from about 1.0% to about 1.5% by weight of the supercritical extract of turmeric; (D) from about 10.0% to about 16.0% by weight of the supercritical extract of rosemary; (E) from about 4.0% to about 6.0% by weight of the supercritical extract of oregano; (F) from about 10.0% to about 16.0% by weight of the hydroalcoholic extract of turmeric; (G) from about 5.5% to about 8.0% by weight of the hydroalcoholic extract of rosemary; (H) from about 10.0% to about 16.0% by weight of the hydroalcoholic extract of holy basil; (I) from about 10.0% to about 16.0% by weight of the hydroalcoholic extract of green tea; (J) from about 8.0% to about 12.0% by weight of the hydroalcoholic extract of huzhang; (K) from about 4.0% to about 6.0% by weight of the hydroalcoholic extract of Chinese goldthread; (L) from about 4.0% to about 6.0% by weight of the hydroalcoholic extract of barberry; and (M) from about 2.0% to about 3.0% by weight of the hydroalcoholic extract of Scutellaria baicalensis.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the weight ratio of the supercritical extract of ginger to the hydroalcoholic extract of ginger is from about 0.9:1 to about 1.4:1.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the weight ratio of the hydroalcoholic extract of turmeric to the supercritical extract of turmeric is from about 8:1 to about 12:1.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the weight ratio of the supercritical extract of rosemary to the hydroalcoholic extract of rosemary is from about 1.6:1 to about 2.4:1.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the hydroalcoholic extract of ginger comprises from about 2.4% to about 3.6% by weight of pungent compounds.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the supercritical extract of ginger comprises from about 24% to about 36% by weight of pungent compounds and from about 6.4% to about 9.6% by weight of zingiberene.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the supercritical extract of turmeric comprises from about 36% to about 54% by weight of turmerones.
 11. The method of claim 1, wherein the supercritical extract of rosemary comprises from about 18.4% to about 27.6% by weight of total phenolic antioxidants.
 12. The method of claim 1, wherein the supercritical extract of oregano comprises from about 0.64% to about 0.96% by weight of total phenolic antioxidants.
 13. The method of claim 1, wherein the hydroalcoholic extract of turmeric comprises from about 5.6% to about 8.4% by weight of curcumin.
 14. The method of claim 1, wherein the hydroalcoholic extract of rosemary comprises from about 18.4% to about 27.6% by weight of total phenolic antioxidants.
 15. The method of claim 1, wherein the hydroalcoholic extract of holy basil comprises from about 1.6% to about 2.4% by weight of ursolic acid.
 16. The method of claim 1, wherein the hydroalcoholic extract of green tea comprises from about 36% to about 54% by weight of polyphenols.
 17. The method of claim 1, wherein the hydroalcoholic extract of huzhang comprises from about 6.4% to about 9.6% by weight of resveratrol.
 18. The method of claim 1, wherein the hydroalcoholic extract of Chinese goldthread comprises from about 4.8% to about 7.2% by weight of berberine.
 19. The method of claim 1, wherein the hydroalcoholic extract of barberry comprises from about 4.8% to about 7.2% by weight of berberine.
 20. The method of claim 1, wherein said composition provided in step (a) comprises: (A) from about 4.5% to about 7.5% by weight of the hydroalcoholic extract of ginger, wherein the extract comprises from about 2.4% to about 3.6% by weight of pungent compounds; (B) from about 5.5% to about 8.5% by weight of the supercritical extract of ginger, wherein the extract comprises from about 24% to about 36% by weight of pungent compounds and from about 6.4% to about 9.6% by weight of zingiberene; (C) from about 1.0% to about 1.5% by weight of the supercritical extract of turmeric, wherein the extract comprises from about 36% to about 54% by weight of turmerones; (D) from about 10.0% to about 16.0% by weight of the supercritical extract of rosemary, wherein the extract comprises from about 18.4% to about 27.6% by weight of total phenolic antioxidants; (E) from about 4.0% to about 6.0% by weight of the supercritical extract of oregano, wherein the extract comprises from about 0.64% to about 0.96% by weight of total phenolic antioxidants; (F) from about 10.0% to about 16.0% by weight of the hydroalcoholic extract of turmeric, wherein the extract comprises from about 5.6% to about 8.4% by weight of curcumin; (G) from about 5.5% to about 8.0% by weight of the hydroalcoholic extract of rosemary, wherein the extract comprises from about 18.4% to about 27.6% by weight of total phenolic antioxidants; (H) from about 10.0% to about 16.0% by weight of the hydroalcoholic extract of holy basil, wherein the extract comprises from about 1.6% to about 2.4% by weight of ursolic acid; (I) from about 10.0% to about 16.0% by weight of the hydroalcoholic extract of green tea, wherein the extract comprises from about 36% to about 54% by weight of polyphenols; (J) from about 8.0% to about 12.0% by weight of the hydroalcoholic extract of huzhang, wherein the extract comprises from about 6.4% to about 9.6% by weight of resveratrol; (K) from about 4.0% to about 6.0% by weight of the hydroalcoholic extract of Chinese goldthread, wherein the extract from about 4.8% to about 7.2% by weight of berberine; (L) from about 4.0% to about 6.0% by weight of the hydroalcoholic extract of barberry, wherein the extract from about 4.8% to about 7.2% by weight of berberine; and (M) from about 2.0% to about 3.0% by weight of the hydroalcoholic extract of Scutellaria baicalensis; and wherein said composition further comprises: (i) the supercritical extract of ginger and the hydroalcoholic extract of ginger at a weight ratio of from about 0.9 to about 1.4 parts of supercritical extract per 1 part of post-supercritical hydroalcoholic extract; (ii) the hydroalcoholic extract of turmeric and the supercritical extract of turmeric at a weight ratio of from about 8 to about 12 parts of hydroalcoholic extract per 1 part of supercritical extract; and (iii) the supercritical extract of rosemary and the hydroalcoholic extract of rosemary at a weight ratio of from about 1.6 to about 2.4 parts of supercritical extract per 1 part of hydroalcoholic extract.
 21. The method of claim 1, said composition is administered in a daily dosage of at least about 700 mg.
 22. The method of claim 1, wherein said composition is administered on a daily basis for at least 4 weeks. 